A Libyan militia member in 2019
Libya’s armed oil industry takeover
Booming crude production has been met with international caution after the UN’s damning assessment
A devastating UN report concluding armed groups now control Libya’s oil industry has dampened enthusiasm about the country’s recent unexpected production boom. Oil output, which had languished at less than 1.2m b/d for four years, has jumped to 1.4m b/d in as many months, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), although the figure is questioned by analysts. Investors will likely remain cautious about Libya’s prospects after the UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts reported that militia chiefs now have senior positions in NOC, which controls Libya’s oil production. “Armed groups in Libya have achieved an unprecedented level of influence over state institutions” UN Panel o
Also in this section
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
22 January 2026
As Saudi Arabia pushes mining as a new pillar of its economy, Saudi Aramco is positioning itself at the intersection of hydrocarbons, minerals and industrial policy
22 January 2026
New long-term deal is latest addition to country’s rapidly evolving supply portfolio as it eyes role as regional gas hub
