Well-informed sources reported, on Thursday, that the El Feel oil field has been closed down by locals and residents in the southern region of the country.
The protest action was triggered by the arrest of former Finance Minister, Faraj Boumtari, in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
The sources pointed out that the situation in the south of Libya is becoming increasingly tense. The locals, distressed by the arrest, are on their way to shutting down several other oil fields in the region, further escalating the situation.
The El Feel oil field, now at a standstill, usually pumps out about 125,000 barrels of oil per day.
Boumtari was detained at Mitiga Airport in Tripoli by operatives affiliated with the internal security apparatus. His arrest comes on the heels of circulating news about his candidacy for the position of Governor of the Central Bank of Libya. Boumtari is rumored to replace Al Siddiq al-Kabeer as part of the ongoing dialogue between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State (HCS).
The closure of the El Feel oil field and the increasing tensions in southern Libya underscore the delicate socio-political landscape of the country and further demonstrate the potential for disruptions in Libya’s crucial oil sector.
