TotalEnergies has restarted production at Libya’s Mabruk oil field after more than a decade of inactivity, restoring output from an onshore asset that had been offline since 2015 following security disruptions.

The French energy major said the field, in which it holds a 37.5% stake, resumed operations on February 28 after the completion of a new production unit capable of processing up to 25,000 barrels per day. Construction on the facility began in May 2024, allowing the project to reach start-up in less than two years.

Located roughly 130 kilometers south of Sirte within concession C17, Mabruk is one of several upstream assets operated in Libya by international partners alongside the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC). The field’s restart marks the latest step in the gradual recovery of Libya’s oil sector, which has faced years of instability, intermittent shutdowns, and infrastructure damage since the country’s civil conflict intensified in the mid-2010s.

For TotalEnergies, the project reinforces a long-standing presence in Libya, where the company has operated since 1956. The restart also aligns with the company’s strategy to expand upstream production through relatively low-cost projects tied to existing infrastructure.

The company said the development supports its broader goal of increasing hydrocarbon production by around 3% annually through 2030. Management described the Mabruk restart as part of a series of recent moves in Libya, including the extension of the Waha concessions, which remain among the country’s most significant oil-producing assets.

TotalEnergies’ Libyan portfolio includes interests in the offshore Al Jurf field and several onshore developments, including El Sharara and the Waha concessions. The Waha assets are operated by Waha Oil Company, which is wholly owned by Libya’s National Oil Corporation and jointly held with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.

In 2025, TotalEnergies reported average production in Libya of about 113,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day across its operated and non-operated assets. The addition of output from Mabruk could modestly increase that figure while contributing to the country’s broader efforts to stabilize and expand crude production.

Libya holds Africa’s largest proven oil reserves but has struggled to maintain consistent production levels due to political fragmentation and security risks. International operators have cautiously re-engaged in projects where infrastructure and operating conditions have improved, particularly in the Sirte Basin, one of the country’s most prolific hydrocarbon regions.

The restart of Mabruk highlights both the resilience of Libya’s upstream sector and the continued willingness of international oil companies to reinvest in the country despite lingering geopolitical risks.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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