Armed Group Closes Valve 7 on Sharara–Zawiya Pipeline, Cutting Libya's Largest Oil Field's Output by Up to Two-Thirds

An armed group closed Valve No. 7 on the pipeline carrying crude from the Sharara oil field — Libya's largest, normally producing roughly 300,000–335,000 barrels per day (about a fifth of national output) — to Zawiya port on the morning of Monday, September 21, 2026. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the closure caused a pressure buildup and a sharp production drop; outlets cited NOC-linked figures ranging from a 130,000 bpd loss (SEE News) to output collapsing to an estimated 100,000–105,000 bpd, a loss of roughly 200,000 bpd (Rio Times, citing field engineers) — NOC itself did not identify the responsible group, distinguishing it from the Petroleum Facilities Guard's own publicly announced valve closures earlier in September. NOC warned the disruption could force a shutdown of the Zawiya refinery, raise fuel import costs, and said it 'may be compelled to declare force majeure' if the valve is not reopened, citing its obligation to protect national assets and meet contractual commitments to Sharara's operating consortium (Akakus, with Repsol, TotalEnergies, OMV and Equinor as second-party partners).