Libya's National Oil Corp. (NOC) said it was lifting force majeure on Sharara oilfield on Oct. 11, and a Libyan source said initial output there will be 40,000 barrels per day (bbl/d), with total production in the country at 355,000 bbl/d on Oct. 12.

Libyan oil output almost entirely shut down in January when Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), which is at war with the Tripoli-based internationally recognized government, blockaded energy exports.

Haftar said last month he was lifting the blockade and NOC restarted output and exports from fields and ports where it says fighters are no longer based.

NOC said in a statement it had given directions to the operator of the Sharara oil field Acacus to start production arrangements, taking into consideration public safety and process safety standards.

Sharara was producing 300,000 bbl/d of oil before the blockade. Crude from Sharara will be prioritized to feed the Zawia oil refinery, the Libyan source said.