TotalEnergies has restarted production at Libya’s Mabruk oil field after more than a decade of inactivity, restoring production from an offshore asset that had been offline since 2015 following security setbacks.
The French energy giant said the field, in which it owns a 37.5% stake, resumed operations on February 28 following the completion of a new production unit capable of processing up to 25,000 barrels per day. Construction of the facility began in May 2024, allowing the project to begin in less than two years.
Located approximately 130 km south of Sirat within Concession C17, Mabruk is one of several upstream assets operated by international partners in Libya alongside the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC). The field’s restart marks the latest step in the gradual rebuilding of Libya’s oil sector, which has suffered years of instability, frequent shutdowns, and infrastructure damage since the country’s civil conflict escalated in the mid-2010s.
For TotalEnergies, the project strengthens its long-term presence in Libya, where the company has been operating since 1956. The restart is in line with the company’s strategy to expand upstream production through relatively low-cost projects tied to existing infrastructure.
The company said the expansion supports its broader goal of increasing hydrocarbon production by about 3% annually through 2030. Management described Mabrouk’s restart as part of recent measures in Libya, including the extension of Wah concessions, which remain among the country’s most important oil-producing assets.
TotalEnergies’ Libyan portfolio includes interests in the Sahel al-Jarf area and several offshore developments, including the Al Sharara and Waha concessions. The Waha assets are operated by the Waha Oil Company, which is wholly owned by the Libyan National Oil Company and jointly held with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips.
By 2025, TotalEnergies has reported an average production of 113,000 barrels of oil per day across its active and inactive assets in Libya. The addition of output from Mabruk could increase this number modestly while contributing to the country’s broader efforts to stabilize and expand crude production.
Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa but has struggled to maintain sustainable production levels due to political fragmentation and security risks. International operators have cautiously engaged in projects where infrastructure and operating conditions have improved, particularly in the Serret Basin, one of the country’s most abundant hydrocarbon regions.
