Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in 2021
Explorers return to Libya despite fragile security
Peace means progress for Libya’s upstream, but disruption is never far away
Storm clouds are once again circling Libya’s energy sector amid renewed clashes between rival factions. It comes after a period of calm, with major energy companies having a tentative sense of confidence that may still be borne out. IOCs BP and Eni have lifted their decade-long force majeure on Libyan hydrocarbons development, clearing the way for major exploration projects. The two companies, along with Algerian state oil and gas producer Sonatrach, made the move on 3 August, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC). NOC officials have been saying for months that security conditions have improved in Libya, with a ceasefire in its civil war agreed in 2020 largely holding. The conf
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
