Libya’s crude production has returned to 1.2 million barrels a day (b/d), according to a statement posted online by the country’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC).

NOC said: “Due to the great efforts from the NOC subsidiaries and technical teams, we are happy to announce that our production rates have reached the pre-force majeure levels of 1.2 million barrels per day.”

Oil production has more than doubled in Libya in less than a month.

On 11 July, the country was producing 560,000 b/d, according to the NOC.

This rose to 860,000 b/d on 21 July before increasing by 40 per cent to hit current levels.

The rebound in oil production comes amid continuing political instability and violent clashes in the North African country.

Two rival sets of authorities, one based in the east of the country and the other based in the west, are locked in a political stalemate.

The divisions have sparked several incidents of violence in Tripoli in recent months, including clashes on 22 July that killed 13 people.

The latest increase in oil production has come in the wake of a major reshuffle at NOC.

The appointment of Farhat Ben Qadara to replace Mustafa Sanalla as chairman of NOC was announced by the country’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah on 12 July and culminated in an armed confrontation at NOC’s headquarters on 14 July.