In a move signalling renewed efforts to increase its oil output, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has announced the resumption of production at the Mabruk oilfield, located 800 kilometres east of Tripoli, after a 10-year suspension.
Production officially restarted on March 9, 2025, with current output at 5,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The NOC anticipates a rapid increase, projecting a rise to 25,000 bpd by July.
“Mabruk Oil Operations Co. officially resumed production at the Mabruk oil field on 9 March 2025, after a suspension since 2015,” the NOC said in a statement reported by Xinhua.
The statement further conveyed the gratitude of the NOC’s Chairman and Board of Directors to the management and workers of Mabruk Oil Operations Co., emphasising a “keenness to long-term commitment to develop production and work environment sustainability”.
Prior to its closure due to armed conflicts in 2015, the Mabruk oilfield had a production capacity of 34,000 bpd.
The restart represents a significant step in Libya’s efforts to revitalise its oil sector, which has been plagued by instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
This internal strife has caused fluctuating oil production.
As one of Africa’s largest oil producers and a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Libya’s oil production averaged around 1.8 million barrels per day (mbbl/d) in 2010.
However, output declined to approximately 1.27 mbbl/d in 2023 due to ongoing instability.
The resumption of operations at the Mabruk oilfield comes on the heels of Libya’s launch last week of its first oil exploration bidding round in over 17 years.
This initiative, encompassing more than 24 zones, aims to attract US$3 billion to US$4 billion in investment to enhance oil production, with a target of reaching 1.6mbbl/d.
NOC acting chairman Masoud Suleman announced the move, which is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Libya’s global market position and achieve a production target of 2mbbl/d.
