Libya has restarted production at the Mabruk oil field after more than a decade of inactivity, marking an important step in the country’s efforts to rebuild its oil sector and increase export revenues following years of political instability and disruption.
The restart was achieved with support from French energy giant TotalEnergies, which partnered with Libyan authorities and industry stakeholders to bring the field back online. Production officially resumed on February 28, 2026, after the completion of new infrastructure designed to restore operations at the long-idled site.
The Mabruk oil field, located roughly 130 kilometres south of Sirte within concession C17, had remained shut since 2015 when security challenges and armed conflict forced the suspension of operations across several oil facilities in the country. During that period, Libya’s energy industry suffered significant losses as violence and political divisions repeatedly disrupted production and export activities.
With the installation of a new processing facility capable of producing about 25,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the Mabruk field is now expected to contribute again to the country’s oil output. Construction of the new facility began in May 2024 and was completed in less than two years, enabling production to restart early this year.
Officials and industry analysts view the restart as a positive development for Libya’s energy sector, which remains the backbone of the national economy. The North African nation holds the largest proven oil reserves on the African continent and relies heavily on petroleum exports to fund public spending, support infrastructure development and stabilise government finances.
Executives at TotalEnergies have described the project as part of the company’s long standing partnership with Libya. The company has operated in the country for decades and this year marks the seventieth anniversary of its presence in the Libyan energy industry.
Julien Pouget, director for the Middle East and North Africa region within TotalEnergies’ exploration and production division, said the restart reflects the company’s continued commitment to investing in the country’s oil sector despite the challenges experienced over the past decade.
According to Pouget, the Mabruk project also aligns with TotalEnergies’ broader corporate strategy to expand production capacity while improving efficiency and reducing emissions associated with energy extraction. The company has set a goal of achieving annual production growth of about three percent through 2030.
TotalEnergies holds a 37.5 percent stake in the Mabruk oil field, working alongside Libya’s state owned National Oil Corporation and other international partners involved in the concession. The restart also comes shortly after the company announced the extension of its participation in the Waha concessions, another important oil producing area in Libya.
Beyond Mabruk, TotalEnergies maintains a diverse portfolio of energy assets across the country. In 2025, the company produced roughly 113,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Libya from a combination of offshore and onshore fields. These include the offshore Al Jurf oil field, the onshore El Sharara oil field development, the Mabruk field and assets within the Waha concessions.
The Waha assets themselves are operated by Waha Oil Company, a joint venture controlled by the National Oil Corporation with minority stakes held by TotalEnergies and US energy company ConocoPhillips.
Libya’s oil industry has been gradually recovering in recent years as authorities attempt to stabilise production levels after a prolonged period of unrest that followed the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. Since then, rival political factions, armed groups and competing administrations have frequently disrupted oil production and exports.
Despite these challenges, the country has made steady progress in restoring output through cooperation with international energy companies and investment in damaged infrastructure. Analysts say projects such as the restart of the Mabruk field could play an important role in helping Libya rebuild consistent oil production capacity.
The renewed operations are also expected to strengthen government revenue at a time when the country continues to navigate economic pressures and political uncertainty.
Energy experts note that while Libya’s production levels remain below their historical peak, ongoing restoration of dormant fields and expansion of existing projects could significantly improve the country’s ability to increase output in the coming years.
The return of production at the Mabruk oil field therefore represents not only the revival of a key asset but also another sign that Libya’s energy sector is gradually recovering after years of disruption.
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