The Street: Libya Can Loosen Putin's Energy Grip on Europe

As Western powers continue attempts to diminish tensions between Ukraine and Russia, an unlikely player looms to help loosen President Vladimir Putin's grip on the region.

Libya, which the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports has 48.47 billion barrels of proven reserves, soon may resume production at three oil fields that the state-owned National Oil Corporation expects will increase production to 500,000 barrels per day (double the current amount) in the near future.

Oil analysts say such a supply boost by Libya would be bearish for Brent crude oil prices, but some are also pointing out that an unintended side effect is that it would allow the European Union more flexibility to levy harsher sanctions against Russia.

"At least it would ease the supply shortage somewhat and maybe lead to some harsher rhetoric from Europe," Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank AG, said in a phone interview from Frankfurt.
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