In a statement posted on its website, state-owned National Oil Co. said it was no longer able to ensure security in the 11 fields and declared force majeure on them, a move guaranteeing legal protections from claims against any future disruptions.
In recent weeks, the North African country’s oil industry–once the lifeblood of its economy–has been in the cross hairs of an armed conflict. The country is pumping about 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day, three times less than its peak output.
The Dahra oil field, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of Tripoli, was attacked late on Tuesday, hours after two other oil facilities were targeted by the militants. Col. Hakim Maazab, a commander of the oil guards in the area said his men had regained control of the field late on Wednesday.
Mabruk and Bahi, two of the oil fields in central Libya that had been attacked last month, were stormed again by unknown gunmen on Monday and Tuesday.
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