meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Libya has potential for energy project surge

6 July 2023

MEED's August 2023 report on Libya also includes:

> Libyan pipeline contract awarded
> Libyan oil company in pipeline procurement talks
> Libya’s Waha Oil plans water plant
> Halliburton in talks for $1bn Libya oil project
> Eni signs gas deal in Libya

 

After a string of major energy project announcements in the country, Libya will likely be on course for a surge in project activity as long as it can maintain political stability and security.

However, the current period of stability is looking increasingly fragile amid threats from the military leader General Khalifa Haftar, who has warned of military action unless oil revenues are divided fairly within the next two months.

Eastern politicians claim the Central Bank distributes the bulk of oil revenues to the rival UN-recognised government based in Tripoli, even though the oil is produced in fields largely based in the east of the country.

The US special envoy to Libya, Richard Norland – eager to keep oil production flowing – had urged the east not to disrupt production.

The heightened political tensions come after a promising period of increased business activity within Libya that many believe could still pave the way for a boom in the country’s energy sector – if conflict can be avoided.

Recent announcements include a partnership between Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy's Eni to develop two regions containing expected gas reserves of 6 trillion cubic feet.

The upstream Mellitah complex integrated expansion is meanwhile estimated to be worth $8bn. It is anticipated to have a production capacity of 750 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas for a period of 25 years.

The deal between Eni and NPC for the expansion project was announced in January, but in April MEED revealed that the project still needed board approval before tenders for the main contracts could be issued.

It is possible that stakeholders in this project, like many other major projects in the country, are taking their time before finalising the contract to better gauge the political and security environment before they commit to large-scale investment.

Security company licensing system overhauled in Libya

Political instability

Libya has been plagued by frequent outbreaks of conflict for more than a decade since the removal of Muammar Gaddafi during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Since his removal, rival factions have continually vied for power and the country has failed to create a unified government.

At the moment, the country has two rival governments. The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) exerts control over territory in the west of the country, and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives controls territory in the east.

Elections planned for 24 December 2021 were expected to unify the country under a single government, but they never occurred and many of the contested issues that derailed the democratic process in 2021 remain unresolved.

Key problematic issues include the eligibility criteria for presidential candidates and how candidates with military affiliations should be treated.

It has been reported that both sides have agreed that candidates with military affiliations must automatically resign from their military posts if they become candidates, but debate remains over whether provisions should be in place to stop them from resuming their positions once the electoral process has concluded.

Additionally, both sides have agreed that dual nationals that want to stand as president should give up the citizenship of the second country, but no mechanism has been decided on to verify compliance.

While it is clear that undisputed elections and the formation of a single unified government are the best-case scenario, it is possible that the country’s business community and energy sector will prosper without this in place.

UK foreign office asked to relax Libya travel advice

Conflict cooldown

Since the June 2020 conclusion of Operation Flood of Dignity, a year-long campaign in which Tobruk-aligned military forces tried to capture Tripoli, Libya has seen a significant improvement in its security situation and an uptick in energy sector activity.

The increase in business activity since then has shown that the country can attract international businesses for multibillion-dollar projects without a single unified government in place.

Other business deals that have been announced include the signing of a contract between NOC and US-based Honeywell for engineering work on the planned South Refinery project in Libya.

The project is expected to be carried out in two phases and is anticipated to cost between $500m and $600m.

Additionally, Libya’s Waha Oil Company is in advanced talks with US-based Halliburton over a $1bn project to rehabilitate the country’s Al-Dhara oil field.

On top of the series of announcements regarding major projects with international companies, there has also been an uptick in small-scale energy project activity, according to contractors active in the country.

All this points to the future looking promising for the country’s energy sector, as long as stability and security can be maintained. However, keeping the peace is unlikely to be easy, given the precarious nature of the political situation.

Sudan situation

The ongoing conflict in Libya’s neighbour, Sudan, has sparked an influx of refugees into Libya and rising uncertainty about future stability.

Analysts have warned that increased arms trafficking could be part of the fallout from the ongoing war in Sudan as control over the country’s arms storage facilities and borders is reduced.

Further flows of arms into the south of Libya could potentially embolden militias in the region and erode security.

Additionally, before the conflict in Sudan, the African Union and Arab League played significant roles in mediating the unresolved issues between Libya’s two rival governments.

Likely, at least some of the resources that would previously have been used to try to strengthen stability in Libya will now have to be used to deal with the escalating crisis in Sudan.

Maintaining peace and finding common ground between Libya’s rival governments is likely to be critical to the future growth of the country’s energy sector and the broader economy.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/10983464/main1954.jpg
Wil Crisp

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Oman’s Nama PWP tenders consultancy contract

    3 April 2026

    Oman’s Nama Power and Water Procurement Company (Nama PWP) has opened a tender for the provision of environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting consultancy services.

    The tender seeks proposals from interested parties to support the utility in assessing its ESG maturity and identifying gaps against the Oman Investment Authority’s ESG guidelines.

    The deadline for firms to submit offers is 10 May.

    According to the tender notice, the selected consultant will develop the required ESG policies, strategy, report and implementation roadmap.

    Nama PWP, part of Nama Group, said the scope of work is intended to support the company’s wider ESG framework as it continues to procure new power and water capacity in Oman.

    The utility also recently opened a tender seeking proposals from qualified law firms to provide legal consultancy services in Oman.

    The selected firms will be included on a panel and engaged on an as-needed basis. They will deliver legal advisory services across a range of matters relevant to Nama PWP’s business.

    The deadline for firms to submit offers is 21 April.

    In March, the state utility released its latest seven-year plan outlining rapid expansion of solar and wind projects.

    It expects the renewable energy share of Oman's power generation mix to increase steadily across the period, reaching 16% in 2028 and 21% in 2029 before rising to 30% in 2030. This compares to about 4% in 2024.

    The pipeline includes a series of large-scale independent power projects (IPPs) scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2031.

    Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the sultanate is projected to rise from 1.54GW in 2024 to 23.26GW by 2031. Wind capacity is expected to grow from 120MW to 6.75GW, 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16249021/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Construction ramps up for $1bn Egypt phosphate project

    3 April 2026

     

    Construction activity is ramping up on the site of the $1bn phosphate complex project in Egypt’s Sokhna Industrial Zone, according to industry sources.

    Workers were first deployed at the site in February and construction is ongoing, sources said.

    In November, Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli attended the signing ceremony for the establishment of the complex.

    The contract was signed between Egypt’s Elsewedy Industrial Development and China’s Kunming Chuanjinnuo Chemical Company (CJN).

    The project is being developed on a site covering 905,000 square metres and will be implemented across three consecutive phases, with an estimated total investment of $1bn.

    Under current plans, a substantial portion of the complex’s output will be allocated to export markets in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.

    The first phase is scheduled to start commercial operations in 2028.

    This stage is focused on increasing the value-added content of Egyptian phosphate ore through the production of phosphoric acid along with diammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilisers.

    The second phase, set to launch in 2029 and operate commercially by 2031, will expand into high-purity phosphate chemicals, including purified phosphoric acid (PPA) and monopotassium phosphate (MKP).

    The third phase, beginning in 2032 with commercial operation targeted for 2034, will shift toward new-energy materials, particularly those used in electric-vehicle battery production.

    Key outputs will include lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium dihydrogen phosphate, supporting Egypt’s emergence as a growing hub for advanced battery materials and green-energy technologies.

    The project also includes establishing a specialised research and development centre focused on advancing phosphate-based chemical technologies.

    The centre will promote industrial localisation, support technology transfer, and strengthen Egypt’s scientific and technological capabilities in high-value chemical manufacturing.

    MEED’s March 2026 report on Egypt includes:

    > COMMENT: Egypt’s crisis mode gives way to cautious revival
    > GOVERNMENT: Egypt adapts its foreign policy approach
    > ECONOMY & BANKING: Egypt nears return to economic stability
    > OIL & GAS: Egypt’s oil and gas sector shows bright spots
    > POWER & WATER: Egypt utility contracts hit $5bn decade peak
    > CONSTRUCTION: Coastal destinations are a boon to Egyptian construction

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16240318/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Saudi Arabia seeks firms for food testing labs PPP project

    2 April 2026

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities & Housing, in collaboration with the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), has issued an expression of interest (EOI) notice for a contract to develop and operate municipal food safety laboratories under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

    The project will be delivered on an equip, operate, maintain and transfer basis, with a contract duration of five years.

    The EOI was issued on 1 April, with a submission deadline of 15 April.

    The project scope covers the equipping, operation and maintenance of municipal food safety laboratories across five municipalities: Hafr Al-Batin, Northern Borders, Tabuk, Qassim and Al-Ahsa.

    Key objectives include upgrading laboratory equipment, expanding chemical and microbiological testing capacity for food and water products, and enhancing testing accuracy to support laboratory compliance across the value chain. The project also aims to ensure effective knowledge transfer and a structured handover to the relevant municipalities at the end of the contract term.

    NCP said in a statement: “The project is intended to strengthen public health and safety standards for citizens and residents of the kingdom in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, while developing the municipal monitoring ecosystem, optimising food and water testing services, and enabling private sector participation in accordance with global best practices.”

    In October last year, NCP highlighted the scale and diversity of opportunities in the kingdom’s PPP pipeline.

    “At the moment, we have around 200 projects in the pipeline with a total value of roughly $190bn,” said Salman Badr, executive vice president – infrastructure advisory, NCP, during a MEED webinar.

    The projects are spread across 17 sectors. “We have a very sizable programme, and it reflects the breadth of the kingdom’s transformation agenda,” he said.

    NCP was established in 2017. It serves as the central authority and catalyst for designing and implementing privatisation and PPP projects across the kingdom.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16236864/main.gif
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Parsons to project manage Al-Ittihad Sports Village in Jeddah

    2 April 2026

    US-based engineering firm Parsons Corporation has been awarded a contract by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Club Company to act as project management consultant for the Al-Ittihad Sports Village in Jeddah.

    Under the contract, Parsons will support the project during the design stage.

    The sports village will be developed near King Abdullah Sports City and will include Al-Ittihad’s headquarters, academy training pitches and supporting facilities, performance development centres, administrative offices and a range of commercial components.

    The development is being designed in line with Fifa requirements and international best practices, with the aim of strengthening high-performance sports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

    The latest award follows Parsons’ recent appointment to a 60-month contract by the Public Investment Fund-backed New Murabba Development Company to provide design and construction technical support.

    As part of that role, Parsons will support the development of the project’s downtown area, which will span 14 million square metres of residential, workplace and entertainment space.

    In October last year, Parsons announced it had secured a SR210m ($56m) contract from Diriyah Company. Its scope includes the design and construction supervision of infrastructure works in phase two of the Diriyah project, covering streets, footpaths, open spaces, and civic buildings and facilities.

    In May last year, Parsons also confirmed its appointment as delivery partner for the airside and landside packages at King Salman International airport in Riyadh.

    In a statement, Parsons said it had signed two contracts with King Salman International Airport Development Company. The first covers airfield assets, including runways, taxiways, aircraft parking areas and air traffic control towers.

    The second contract relates to landside infrastructure, including roads, utilities, tunnels, bridges, rail networks and landscaping.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16233673/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Read the April 2026 MEED Business Review

    2 April 2026

    Download / Subscribe / 14-day trial access

    When the first missiles and drones were fired at the GCC on 28 February, the region’s economic story pivoted abruptly, from long-term vision-building to near-term resilience.

    The conflict is now the Gulf’s most consequential economic stress test in a generation. It is challenging the safe haven premium that underpins capital inflows, while disrupting the physical networks that keep the region’s economies running, from energy exports and shipping lanes to airports and tourism.

    MEED editor Colin Foreman asks whether the GCC can sustain investor confidence as energy assets, trade routes, airports and banks absorb the shock. Read more here.

    April’s market focus is on Saudi Arabia, where the Iran war is compounding the logic behind the kingdom’s strategic pivot in its investment plans.

    This edition also includes MEED’s 2026 GCC contractor ranking, in which Chinese firms have surged to the top as Saudi spending cuts and geopolitical risks weigh on GCC construction activity.

    In the latest issue, we explore the region’s evolving arbitration landscape; present exclusive leadership insight from Jacobs on the future of passenger rail in the Middle East; and talk to Leyla Abdimomunova, head of real estate and construction at the Public Investment Fund’s National Development Division, about remaking Saudi construction.

    We hope our valued subscribers enjoy the April 2026 issue of MEED Business Review. 

     

    Must-read sections in the April 2026 issue of MEED Business Review include:

    > AGENDA: Gulf economies under fire

    INDUSTRY REPORT:
    GCC contractor ranking
    > Construction guard undergoes a shift

    > LEGAL: Redefining the region’s arbitration landscape

    > QATAR LNG: Qatar’s new $8bn investment heats up global LNG race  

    > INTERVIEW: Leyla Abdimomunova, National Development Division, PIF

    > LEADERSHIP: Shaping the future of passenger rail in the Middle East 

    > SAUDI MARKET FOCUS: 
    > COMMENT: Risk accelerates Saudi spending shift
    > GVT &: ECONOMY: Riyadh navigates a changed landscape
    > BANKING: Testing times for Saudi banks
    > UPSTREAM: Offshore oil and gas projects to dominate Aramco capex in 2026
    > DOWNSTREAM: Saudi downstream projects market enters lean period
    > POWER: Wind power gathers pace in Saudi Arabia
    > WATER: Sharakat plan signals next phase of Saudi water expansion
    > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction enters a period of strategic readjustment
    > TRANSPORT: Rail expansion powers Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure push

    > MEED COMMENTS: 
    >     Iran war erodes LNG’s image of reliability
    > Dubai's real estate faces a hard test
    > Energy resilience matters as much as capacity
    > Drawn-out conflict may shift planning priorities

    > GULF PROJECTS INDEX: Gulf index rises amid tensions

    > FEBRUARY 2025 CONTRACTS: Middle East contract awards

    > ECONOMIC DATA: Data drives regional projects

    > OPINION: The end of the republic and the end of times

    > BUSINESS OUTLOOK: Finance, oil and gas, construction, power and water contracts

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16222272/main.gif
    MEED Editorial