OPEC-member
Libya
has
restored its production to the levels it reached before the start of the civil
war in 2011, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Awad al-Baraasi said Monday.
"As for the oil sector, oil terminals and refineries have been restarted
and oil production has returned to the pre-war levels," Mr.al-Baraasi told
an energy conference in
Dubai
.
Mr. al-Baraasi didn't give a figure for
Libya
's
current production, but the North African country, a member of the Organization
of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, used to produce 1.7 million barrels per
day before of the uprising that toppled long-time leader Moammar Gadhafi in
2011.
Last month, the country pumped 1.325 million barrels per day, according to a
survey of industry and official sources conducted by Dow Jones Newswires.
Libya, holder of Africa's biggest crude reserves, has fast recovered its oil
production since the overthrow and killing of Mr. Gadhafi but foreign companies
still complain of infrastructure constraints, tough contract terms and
persistent insecurity.
Since the war, oil and gas facilities have frequently been the target of
protests and attacks by militias.
Last month protesters blocked the entrance to northern
Libya
's
Gialo field, which is controlled by Waha Oil Co. and feeds crude into a
pipeline to the Es Sider export terminal. They were demanding the company use
locally-hired drivers and vehicles.
Oil minister Abdelbari al-Arusi said last week the security situation in the
country continues to improve "despite being amplified by the media."
Libya
's
National Oil Corporation owns Waha Oil in partnership with
U.S.
firms
ConocoPhillips (COP), Hess Corp. (HES) and Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO).