Libya and Norway Discuss Oil and Gas Investment
Libya is seeking stronger energy cooperation with Norway, including investment, offshore development, technology and training, as Tripoli works to attract international companies and raise oil and gas production.
Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Khalifa Abdel-Sadig, met Norwegian Energy Minister Terje Aasland during the Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) 2026 conference in Stavanger. According to Libya Herald’s report, the two ministers discussed expanding cooperation between Libya and Norway across the energy sector. The talks come as Libya seeks to bring more foreign capital and technical expertise into an industry that remains central to government revenue and exports.
Offshore Development
The discussions covered petroleum resource management, oil and gas development, technology, renewable energy, training and knowledge exchange. The two sides also discussed encouraging Norwegian companies to invest and operate in Libya. Offshore development is particularly relevant, because Libya has significant Mediterranean acreage, yet its offshore resources remain far less developed than its major onshore oil fields. Developing those resources would require substantial investment in exploration, drilling, infrastructure and technical services.
Norway has extensive experience in offshore oil and gas and has built a large services and technology industry around the sector. Norwegian companies could therefore provide Libya with expertise as the country seeks to develop new resources and increase production. Equinor already has experience in Libya, giving Norwegian energy companies an existing base from which to expand their involvement. The company has interests in the Murzuq Basin and has operated in Libya for more than two decades. Its Libya operations include exploration and production activities alongside international partners.
For Libya, the potential benefit goes beyond bringing in capital. Cooperation with Norwegian companies could also provide access to technology, project management expertise and workforce training.
Foreign Investment
This meeting in Norway is part of a broader campaign by the Libyan Oil Ministry and the National Oil Corporation to attract international investment. Libya has been pushing international oil companies to increase exploration and develop existing fields as it seeks to raise production. The country has also been discussing new investment opportunities with major companies including Shell, TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips and other international operators.
The scale of Libya’s ambitions is significant. The government wants to increase oil production while also expanding gas development and improving aging energy infrastructure. Higher production would give Libya more crude for export and potentially increase government revenues, provided the country can maintain stable production and export operations.
Norway’s experience in managing its petroleum sector is also relevant. The country has developed strong institutions around petroleum licensing, resource management and state participation while maintaining a large role for private and international companies. That does not mean Libya can simply copy the Norwegian model. Libya faces different political, institutional and security conditions, but Norwegian technical experience could still be useful in areas such as offshore development, energy management and professional training.
From Talks to Projects
The main question for Libya is whether discussions with international companies could actually lead to investment. Meetings at ONS give Libya an opportunity to present projects and establish relationships with potential investors. But companies will ultimately assess security, contract terms, infrastructure, regulatory conditions and the ability to operate projects over the long term.
That issue is particularly important as Libya seeks billions of dollars in investment to increase production and modernize its energy sector. The Norwegian government continues to support a large domestic petroleum industry despite its wider energy transition. Norway’s Ministry of Energy oversees the country’s petroleum and energy policy, including oil and gas resources and the broader energy system.
For Libya, closer cooperation with Norway could therefore offer two benefits: access to investment and expertise in traditional energy, while also opening discussions on renewable energy and workforce development. The next step will be whether the ministerial discussions produce specific projects, agreements or Norwegian investment in Libya. For investors watching the country’s energy sector, that will be more important than the meetings themselves.
