A war of words has broken out over allegations that oil exports are not being properly monitored and checked.

Libya's crude oil output has recovered slightly after fields in western regions of the country resumed production, according to Abdelbari al-Arusi, but several ports remain closed.

Italian energy giant Eni recorded a lower-than-expected second quarter performance, partly due to production interruptions at its fields in Libya.

The head of the Hariqa oil port, in Tobruq, says that the terminal is handling crude oil exports "as normal", despite recent reports that it was shut by protests.

Protests, sit-ins and power supply problems have plunged Libya's oil sector into crisis, with export volumes recently falling to barely a quarter of their levels earlier in the year.

The Prime Minister's office has approved a new chief for the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), which is tasked with protecting Libya's oil and gas fields and terminals.

Abdelbari al-Arusi denied on 29 July that exports from the two terminals had been suspended due to protests.

Tripoli drivers recently embarked upon another bout of panic-buying, despite reassurances that petrol supplies were readily available.

The US energy firm has reportedly told the National Oil Corporation that it is considering a sale of its 16.3% stake in Waha Oil, which last year was Libya's second largest oil producer.

Protesters from the town of Nalut demanding greater rights for Libya's Amazigh community have reportedly closed a pipeline feeding the Mellitah gas complex, which lies on the coast near Zuwara.

The Romanian energy firm, which resumed work in Libya in early 2012, held meetings this week with senior Libyan oil officials.

Reports suggest that ships at the Zueitina terminal in north-east Libya are still being prevented from loading crude oil, bringing the latest round of disruption into its sixth day.

The oil and gas services company generated a small profit from its operations in Misrata during the first half of the year, although it remains "cautious" on Libya.

Marathon and ConocoPhillips, two US companies with stakes in Waha Oil, held a workshop with the National Oil Corporation to discuss ways of increasing output from several fields.

Reports say that an armed group forced export operations to be halted on 16 July, the latest in a series of disruptions at the troubled oil terminal.