With The Shutdown Over, Can Libya Now Meaningfully Boost Its Oil Production?

Libya’s oil production was cut roughly in half when a blockade of major fields and ports began at the end of August. With the shutdown having ended on 3 October, output has bounced back to around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) again. According to subsequent statements from its National Oil Corporation (NOC), the move is now on to significantly boost its crude production. Theoretically, Libya could achieve this. Prior to the removal of its long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011, it had easily been able to produce around 1.65 million…