Libyan barrels’ return may be temporary

Production could ramp up quickly, but the countdown is already ticking on another round of shutdowns

Libya’s oil production has nearly tripled since the end of an oil port blockade. But the country’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has in effect jumped the gun by re-opening ports and fields, despite the failure of all sides to agree a deal hammered out by US diplomats. In the absence of a deal, the shutdown may return by 18 October. Khalifa Haftar, head of the powerful eastern Libyan National Army, ordered the blockade in January. He declared it over in mid-September after signing an agreement with Ahmed Maiteeq, deputy prime minister of Tripoli’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA). But GNA prime minister Fayez-al-Sarraj and most of his cabinet have refused to sign