Local protesters successfully halted a tanker from loading oil on Tuesday at Libya’s Es Sidra port, a key hub for the oil-rich nation, according to two engineers at the facility who spoke to Reuters. The demonstrators are pushing for the relocation of several oil company headquarters to the Oil Crescent region, a demand they outlined in a statement to the National Oil Corporation last week.
The protesters emphasized that their actions are driven by a call for equitable development in their region, aiming to improve living conditions and ensure a fair distribution of resources. This is not the first time such demonstrations have disrupted Libya’s oil operations. In January 2023, similar protests led to the shutdown of production at the Sharara oilfield, one of the country’s largest.
The ongoing unrest highlights the challenges faced by Libya, a major oil producer, as it navigates internal disputes over resource allocation and regional development.