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🛒 تسوق الآنLibya Regains Full Control of Ras Lanuf Refinery After Decade-Long Legal Battle
Libya Regains Full Control of Ras Lanuf Refinery After Decade-Long Legal Battle
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, that it has signed a final agreement with the Emirati Trasta Company to regain full sovereignty over the Ras Lanuf refinery — the largest oil refinery in the country — ending more than ten years of international legal and arbitration disputes. The agreement marks one of the most significant transformations in Libya's oil sector since 2011 and returns one of the nation's most important strategic assets to full Libyan control.
Main Facts and Key Details
The Ras Lanuf refinery, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, has been out of service since 2013 due to a protracted arbitration dispute between the NOC and its former Emirati partner in the LERCO (Libyan Emirati Refinery Company) joint venture. Under the new agreement, Trasta's 50 percent stake reverts entirely to the NOC, returning the refinery and its associated petrochemical complex to full Libyan ownership and management. NOC Chairman Masoud Suleiman, who signed the agreement during a visit to London, stated that the corporation has allocated the necessary budget for restart operations, with maintenance work expected to cost approximately $60 million according to Reuters. He confirmed that the NOC possesses the qualified workforce and equipment required to carry out the rehabilitation process.
Reactions and Context
Chairman Suleiman described the agreement as "a significant national accomplishment that reflects the ability of Libyan expertise to protect the state's rights and recover its strategic assets through legal and negotiated channels." He praised the sustained efforts of the NOC's negotiating, legal, and technical teams who worked for years to resolve the complex dispute. The NOC stated that the agreement "definitively closes one of the most complex files in the Libyan oil and gas sector" and "paves the way for a new phase of rehabilitation, operation, and development." The refinery's output will primarily serve local market demand for refined petroleum products, with Brega Petroleum Marketing Company handling all marketing and distribution operations across the country.
Challenges and Outlook
The NOC aims to restart operations at Ras Lanuf within six months to one year. Initial production is expected at nearly 200,000 barrels per day before gradually ramping up to the full 220,000-barrel capacity. The successful rehabilitation of the refinery could significantly reduce Libya's dependence on imported refined petroleum products and strengthen the country's energy independence. However, the $60 million maintenance cost and the considerable technical challenges of restarting a facility that has been dormant for over a decade remain significant hurdles. Industry experts note that the petrochemical complex associated with the refinery will also require extensive assessment and upgrades. The NOC expressed confidence that the Ras Lanuf complex will reclaim its position as one of the most important refining and petrochemical centers in the region, contributing to Libya's broader economic recovery and energy sector modernization.
The return of the Ras Lanuf refinery to full Libyan control represents a landmark moment for the country's oil sector, signaling a renewed national push to reclaim and develop strategic assets after years of foreign partnership disputes, legal battles, and operational paralysis that have hampered Libya's ability to fully leverage its vast hydrocarbon resources.
