RIA Novosti reported that Germany energy giant Wintershall has restarted oil production in the Libyan Desert in concessions 96 and 97 which it operates together with Russia Gazprom.

The company had suspended and sealed off production operations in the eight onshore oil fields around 1,000 kilometers south-east of Tripoli in February for security reasons after the start of unrest in the African state. Before the suspension, Wintershall had produced around 100,000 barrels of oil a day in Libya since 1958.

The statement said the facilities are undamaged and production has now been started up again as agreed with the Libyan National Oil Corporation.

The statement quoted Dr Rainer Seele Wintershall Chairman as saying that "We reached a production level of about 20,000 barrels per day shortly after beginning operations. Now we have to technically stabilize the production."

(Sourced from RIA Novosti)