Economy Higher oil output supports Libya’s economic rebound Libya’s economy is projected to rebound in 2025, supported by the expansion of oil production, the International Monetary Fund has said. The growth is likely, however, to moderate in the medium term, it said. Non-hydrocarbon growth will remain at 5 to 6 percent this year, driven by sustained government spending, the IMF predicted. The country’s […] April 17, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Libya courts oil investors but risks loom large The country's long-term stability will ultimately determine investment success April 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Libya to offer 22 oil exploration blocks Libya is to offer 22 oil exploration blocks in its first bidding round in more than 17 years, the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has said. The round includes 11 onshore and 11 offshore blocks, The Libya Observer newspaper reported. The decision was confirmed during the 11th meeting of the Supreme Council of Energy and Water Affairs held last week, which is […] April 7, 2025
Oil & Gas Production resumes at Libya’s Mabruk oilfield after a decade Libya has resumed production at the Mabruk oilfield after a decade-long shutdown, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity said on Wednesday. Production under Mabruk Oil Operations officially restarted on Sunday at an initial rate of 5,000 barrels per day, according to a government statement, with plans for an increase to 7,000 bpd by the end […] March 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Libya to launch first oil exploration bids in 17 years Libya is planning its first bidding round for oil exploration in more than 17 years, Masoud Suleman, acting chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), announced in a televised address on Monday. Libya is Africa’s second-largest oil producer and a member of the Organsation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec). Foreign investors have been wary […] March 4, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Libya’s National Oil Corporation needs reform – and fast The coming months will be crucial in determining the country's economic and political direction February 19, 2025
Opinion Economy US crackdown puts Libya’s economic future in jeopardy Financial observers have raised concerns for years about misleading Libyan Central Bank data January 23, 2025
Analysis Oil & Gas Exit of Libya’s oil chief is a sign change must come, say analysts The embattled chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation resigned last week after less than three years in post. Farhat Bengdara’s departure was for health reasons, LNOC said, but industry insiders believe it indicates the time has come for structural change and redistribution of oil revenues in Libya. Bengdara had several disagreements with Abdul Hamid […] January 20, 2025
Oil & Gas Libya needs $4bn to increase oil output says minister Libya needs between $3 billion and $4 billion to reach an oil production rate of 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the acting oil and gas minister Khalifa Abdulsadek has said. A new license bidding round is expected to be approved by the cabinet before the end of January, he told Reuters. Abdulsadek said the Libyan economy heavily relies on oil, accounting for more than 95 percent of […] January 20, 2025
Oil & Gas Libya begins oil and gas production at Chadar field Zallaf Oil and Gas Exploration, Production and Refining Company, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) subsidiary, has commenced production at the Chadar oilfield. The facility is now producing approximately 7.5 million cubic feet of associated gas and 1,500 barrels per day (bpd) of crude. The production rates were reached on the first day, NOC said in […] January 7, 2025
Opinion Infrastructure Rebuilding Syria would revive its nexus status A stable environment in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq would encourage an influx of foreign capital December 16, 2024
Economy Libya in talks to print $6.25bn new bank notes The Central Bank of Libya has engaged British currency printer De La Rue to print 30 billion dinars ($6.25 billion) to resolve the country’s cash liquidity crisis. Governor Naji Issa met De La Rue CEO Clive Vacher on Wednesday to discuss the contract related to printing various denominations of Libyan currency, the bank said in a statement. […] December 6, 2024
Opinion Infrastructure Libya prepares final phase for giant man-made river It is hoped that all Libyan villages and cities will gain access to fresh Saharan water December 2, 2024
Oil & Gas Italy’s Eni will restart gas drilling in Egypt and Libya Italian energy company Eni is reviving its exploration operations on Zohr, Egypt’s largest natural gas field, by the end of the year, its CEO confirmed on Monday. “After some time, we were not really working on Zohr, we will restart drilling by the end of the year, and we are going to drill another well […] November 5, 2024
Opinion Trade Europe needs to revisit Gulf relations or lose out to Asia The recent EU-GCC summit could not have come at a more critical moment October 28, 2024
Opinion Economy Reconstructing battered Libya is a work in progress Physical rebuilding is ongoing but restoring the country's reputation will take longer October 16, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas Oil production in Libya returns, but full recovery is uncertain Oil production in politically divided Libya is slowly recovering, after a tumultuous August when fields across the country were shut down. But crude exports remain disrupted, and government revenues are still dampened, amid concerns over prolonged instability. Libyan factions failed last week to resolve crises over the central bank’s powers and oil revenues. Crude output […] September 17, 2024
Opinion Oil & Gas A mixed prognosis for Libya’s oil sector The country must improve productivity and governance to achieve its oil output goals August 19, 2024
Analysis Oil & Gas Turkey expands its energy search into troubled waters Turkey is stepping up its efforts to become a major player in hydrocarbons, preparing to conduct surveys off the coast of Somalia and working on an agreement with Libya to identify deposits in the Mediterranean. Alparslan Bayraktar, the energy minister in Ankara, announced last Friday that the seismic research vessel Oruç Reis would be dispatched […] July 31, 2024
Aviation Libya’s Berniq buys Airbus jets to expand reach Libya’s Berniq Airways has placed an order with Airbus for six A320neo aircraft to upgrade its fleet and increase its number of routes both regionally and internationally. The airline currently operates six A320s. Waseem Ezzway, chairman of Berniq Airways, said that the investment marks a new chapter for the airline as it continues to modernise […] July 24, 2024
Finance Libyan parliament passes extra $18bn budget funding Libya’s eastern-based parliament has approved an additional budget of 88 billion dinars ($18.3 billion) to drive reconstruction and achieve economic stability. The approval was unanimous in a closed session, Reuters reported, citing spokesman Abdullah Belhaiq. In April, the Benghazi-based government of prime minister Osama Hammad secured an initial budget worth 90 billion Libyan dinars, the […] July 11, 2024
Opinion Economy Macron gambled and lost. Now bond markets will have their say The election result puts France on a collision course with global capital markets and the EU July 9, 2024