BP to reopen Tripoli office in Q4 2025

BP is set to reopen its Tripoli office in the final quarter of 2025 as part of a broader effort to relaunch its operations in Libya, the country’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced this week.

The move signals renewed international confidence in Libya’s oil and gas sector after a prolonged period of political instability and operational disruption.

The decision follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BP and NOC in London, which outlines plans to explore the redevelopment of two of Libya’s most prolific oilfields—Sarir and Messla—both located in the Sirte Basin.

Discovered in the 1960s and 70s, the fields are considered strategic assets in Libya’s upstream portfolio and are now the focus of new technical and commercial studies led by BP.

The MoU also covers the evaluation of unconventional oil and gas resources, as well as a broader review of nearby exploration zones. BP will work closely with NOC to access and analyse technical data in order to assess future development opportunities.

These studies could pave the way for BP’s return to large-scale investment and signal a major expansion of its interests in the country.

Since signing an Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) in 2007, BP’s activity in Libya has faced repeated setbacks, including a force majeure declaration that stalled its operations for years.

That status was lifted in 2023, when BP and its partner Eni resumed exploration in onshore areas, marking a cautious re-entry into the Libyan market.

“This agreement reflects our strong interest in deepening our partnership with NOC and supporting the future of Libya’s energy sector,” said William Lin, BP’s executive vice president for gas and low carbon energy.

”We hope to apply BP’s experience from redeveloping and managing giant oil fields around the world to help optimise the performance of these world-class assets.

We look forward to conducting thorough studies, working closely with NOC, to evaluate the resource potential of this promising region.”

NOC chairman Masoud Suleiman Masoud hailed BP’s return as a key milestone in Libya’s efforts to restore international investment flows and strengthen technical capabilities in the energy sector.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony in London, Masoud emphasised the importance of cooperation in areas such as skills development, training, and long-term capacity building.

“We see BP’s re-engagement not only as an economic partnership but as a transfer of knowledge, technology, and global best practices that can help transform Libya’s oil sector into a more competitive and sustainable industry,” he said.

The agreement with BP comes as Libya intensifies efforts to stabilise its oil sector and attract global energy majors back to the country. With production currently fluctuating around 1.2 million barrels per day, Libyan authorities are aiming to push that figure to 2 million over the next few years—an ambition that hinges on foreign capital, modern infrastructure, and technical expertise.

In a parallel development, NOC also signed an agreement with Shell to carry out feasibility studies for the al-Atshan field and other oil sites exclusively under NOC ownership.

The deal excludes any areas with existing third-party rights and reinforces NOC’s strategy of selectively partnering with global firms to maximise value from its untapped reserves.