Libya’s NOC Targets 1.6M Barrels by 2026 as Global Majors Return Amid $4B Output Drive
Tripoli, 22 July 2025 - Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) is moving decisively to reclaim its position as a top-tier oil producer, unveiling plans to scale daily crude output to 1.6 million barrels by 2026. The move signals a renewed upstream drive in one of Africa’s most geopolitically fragile but hydrocarbon-rich nations—backed by the return of energy giants, ambitious licensing rounds, and a $4 billion investment push.
Despite persistent political divisions and on-the-ground security risks, global players are returning. BP has reestablished its Tripoli office, while Shell is exploring strategic cooperation in oil field development. Turkish state oil firm TPAO has signed an MoU with NOC, indicating heightened regional confidence in Libya’s production trajectory.
At the heart of this revival is the NOC’s proactive stance. In partnership with the Ministry of Oil & Gas, the corporation launched a licensing bid round that has attracted 40 international firms to date. The bid round spans underexplored basins including Ghadames, Cyrenaica, and Murzuq—regions with proven reserves but limited recent activity. In a clear statement of intent, a major drilling rig returned to service this month, bringing key assets back online to support ramp-up efforts.
NOC’s internal ecosystem is also aligning around the expansion vision. Petro Air, a vital logistics operator within Libya’s energy infrastructure, recently convened its General Assembly alongside NOC’s board to review operations and boost aviation services to remote oilfields. Such coordination underscores the institutional commitment to supporting exploration and production logistics in hard-to-reach regions.
Importantly, the latest push represents more than just volumes. NOC Chairman Farhat Bengdara has repeatedly emphasized the goal of modernizing Libya’s oil sector through digitalization, international partnerships, and technical reinvestment. The renewed foreign presence also gives Libya’s recovery global weight, offering both capital and technological uplift to a system battered by over a decade of conflict and neglect.
Still, the road ahead is complex. Persistent militia influence, infrastructure sabotage, and political rivalries continue to threaten continuity. Yet, NOC’s insistence on technical professionalism—coupled with political cover from the Ministry of Oil—appears to be recalibrating risk perceptions among investors.
Libya’s oil rebound story is not just a post-conflict narrative; it is a test case for how resource states can reset investor engagement, even in fragile settings. If NOC hits its target, it would represent the highest output level since 2010, a symbolic return to pre-war potential. The signals are loud: Libya is back in play—and the majors are listening.
