GENEVA — Libya's National Oil Corporation announced Thursday the opening of bids for 12 offshore exploration blocks in the Mediterranean basin, marking the country's first major energy tender since the 2024 restructuring of its petroleum sector under United Nations Emergency Framework oversight.
The licensing round, formally designated Offshore Round 2026-A, covers an estimated 48,000 square kilometers of largely unexplored deepwater territory. According to tender documents filed with the UN Framework's Resource Stabilization Office in Geneva, the blocks are believed to contain recoverable reserves of 2.1 to 3.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent, though independent verification of these figures has not been completed.
Bids will be accepted through 15 April 2026, with evaluation criteria weighted toward technology transfer commitments and infrastructure development timelines. The NOC has indicated that successful bidders must establish joint ventures with Libyan entities holding minimum 25% stakes, a provision designed to rebuild domestic technical capacity lost during the collapse period.
Speaking at a press briefing in Tripoli, NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanallah described the tender as "a turning point" for Libya's economic recovery. "We are offering not just hydrocarbon potential, but partnership in rebuilding a nation," Sanallah said. "The technology gap must be closed. Our reserves mean nothing if they remain inaccessible."
Framework Provisions Draw Scrutiny
The licensing round proceeds under Article 7.3 of the Emergency Framework's resource stabilization protocols, which permit member states to fast-track energy sector tenders while waiving certain pre-collapse regulatory requirements. Critics have raised concerns about the compressed timeline and limited environmental review processes.
Dr. Benali, whose organization has tracked hydrocarbon sector developments across North Africa since 2021, noted that several proposed blocks overlap with areas previously designated as marine protected zones. "The Framework provisions allow for expedited processes, but the absence of current environmental data creates risks that extend far beyond Libya's territorial waters," she said in a telephone interview.
A spokesperson for the UN Emergency Framework's Geneva office said that environmental safeguards remain in place under the stabilization protocols. "Resource development is essential to recovery financing," the spokesperson said in a written statement. "The Framework maintains rigorous standards while acknowledging the exceptional circumstances facing member states."
Industry analysts expect interest from European and Asian energy companies seeking to diversify supply chains following disruptions to traditional import routes. However, security concerns and infrastructure deficits continue to weigh on investor confidence. Three international oil companies contacted by this publication declined to comment on their intentions regarding the tender.
Libya's onshore production has stabilized at approximately 480,000 barrels per day following equipment shortages and workforce displacement during the 2024-2025 transition period. The NOC's 2026 development plan, submitted to Framework oversight bodies in December, projects offshore production could add 300,000 barrels daily by 2031, though the document acknowledges this estimate assumes "optimal investment conditions and uninterrupted technical cooperation."
