UN envoy discuss situation in Libya with 7 ambassadors
UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily has discussed the political, economic and security situation with the ambassadors of Egypt, France, Netherlands, Tunisia, Germany, Russia, and the European Union. Bathily said he met with Ambassador Tamer Mostafa of Egypt on Tuesday, where they reviewed current political, security and economic developments in Libya. “I stressed the need for all regional and international partners to engage positively for a political settlement paving the way for elections.”
Source:Libya Today
January 17, 2024 10:05 UTC
Controversial NC7 Hamada field development must go ahead: Aldabaiba
In a meeting today with the head of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara, Tripoli based Libyan prime minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, stresses the necessity of continuing the procedures for developing the controversial NC7 Hamada field. The contract to develop the field with a foreign consortium was stopped by the Attorney General’s Office based on a report from the Minister of Oil and Gas. Need to invest to increase productionDuring the meeting, Aldabaiba stressed the necessity of investing in the field of oil and gas with the aim of raising productivity, benefiting from the reserve through exploration and development, and continuing to evaluate priority and economic feasibility while increasing disclosure and transparency in all oil projects. Create global partnerships, need foreign investorsBengdara, in turn, stressed that the NOC has been working to activate development and exploration projects that have been stalled for years without justification, and to create global partnerships with the aim of increasing oil and gas production. He explained that the sector’s projects require large financial flows and need foreign investors to ensure their implementation according to the approved timetables.
Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 20:09 UTC
Political Divisions Overshadow Libya Energy Summit as Hopes for Investment Fade
The Libya Energy and Economy Summit 2024 being held at the Rixos Hotel in the capital Tripoli concluded this week. However, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Al-Dabaiba’s government had to halt this due to objections from legislative and oversight bodies in Libya as well as the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Absence of Senior FiguresIn addition to the absence of key energy summit partners – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi – Central Bank Governor Sadiq Al-Kabir and Audit Bureau President Khaled Shakshak were also not present at the summit. The National Oil Corporation appeared to be in the position of spectator regarding this division. Stopping the Sharara field has led to Libya losing a quarter of its revenue from oil exports and could damage equipment and stations at the field.
Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 19:50 UTC
Rights group urges Lebanon to free Kadhafi's son
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Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 18:22 UTC
Libya Summit Affirms Crucial Role of Fossil Fuels While Eyeing New Oil Licensing and Investments
The Libya Energy and Economy Summit brought together government officials, industry executives and experts for two days of talks on jumpstarting the country’s stalled energy sector. Officials outlined plans to launch new licensing rounds for oil and gas exploration rights by the end of 2024 – the first such offering to international firms since 2007. Just last week, the country’s largest oil field at Sharara was shuttered by protests, costing 300,000 barrels per day. Bringing more stability to the oil and gas industry will be crucial for Libya’s economic dreams overall. Officials called for finding a mechanism to free up some of those assets specifically for reinvestment into the oil industry.
Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 13:53 UTC
Maltese, Italian prime minister drop out of Libya energy summit
Prime Minister Robert Abela and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni pulled out of the Libya Energy & Economic Summit over the weekend, both of whom were due to give keynote speeches to the audience of energy and fossil-fuel stakeholders. The Shift contacted the prime minister’s spokesperson, Edward Montebello, who said the Minister for Energy, Miriam Dalli, attended and “the PM had other engagements.”Abela was scheduled to participate in the launch ceremony, giving a keynote speech alongside Meloni and Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. The summit was billed publicly as focussing on renewable energies, with the Maltese government set to discuss trade and commercial ties and explore the feasibility of a proposed renewable energy interconnector project. This would establish a solar photovoltaic park in Libya that would supply Malta with energy. However, the agenda was packed full of representatives from fossil fuel and energy producers, including PetroGas, Eni, Tamoil, Total Energies, and Repsol.
Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 12:23 UTC
After a 10-year hiatus: Al-Khadra Hospital’s Orthopaedic Department resumes hip joint operations on children
Today, Al-Khadra Hospital reported that after a 10-year hiatus, its orthopaedic department successfully performed an operation on a three-year-old child suffering from a dislocated hip joint. It said this is considered one of the delicate operations that is usually only performed in the private sector in Libya. ‘’Localisation of Healthcare’’ policyThe resumption of operations by the state sector that have long been halted is part of the Tripoli based Libyan government’s ‘‘Localisation of Healthcare’’ policy. This is an attempt to resume the local provision of healthcare by the state that have long been halted, instead of sending patients abroad at the state’s expense, or forcing Libyans to pay for the care privately. German and Turkish teams support TAVI heart operations at Tripoli’s Al-Khadra Hospital (libyaherald.com)Al-Khadra Hospital opens its kidney clinic (libyaherald.com)After a nine-year hiatus, Al-Khadra Hospital restarts cruciate ligament reconstruction operations (libyaherald.com)CBL Governor calls on Attorney General to stop continuous drain of inflated and mismanaged overseas state health costs (libyaherald.com)After a ten-year hiatus, Al-Khadra hospital’s Eye Clinic reopens (libyaherald.com)After a ten-year stoppage, Al-Khadra hospital resumes keyhole knee surgery (libyaherald.com)After a 10-year hiatus: Al-Hadba Al-Khadra General Hospital resumes artificial joints operations (libyaherald.com)At the ‘‘localisation of healthcare’’ conference Aldabaiba inaugurates several new services (libyaherald.com)Conference on Localisation of Medical Treatment – Tripoli 12 to 13 June (libyaherald.com)First ever brain and nerve surgery conducted in Al-Khadra Hospital: Health Ministry (libyaherald.com)Tripoli’s Al-Khadra Hospital succeeds in implanting an aortic valve using latest TAVI technology (libyaherald.com)Operations Department of Tripoli Eye Hospital reopened after 13-year closure (libyaherald.com)Visiting Italian medical team touring Libyan hospitals across the country (libyaherald.com)Visiting Egyptian eye surgeon conducts 20 cornea operations in Beida (libyaherald.com)Visiting Jordanian specialists perform 18 infertility and delayed childbearing operations in Zintan Hospital (libyaherald.com)Tripoli Eye Hospital unprecedented medical convoy to south to conduct 40 corneal transplants (libyaherald.com)Health Ministry to launch the 2023-2028 national strategy and 2023 sector plan (libyaherald.com)Libya discusses cooperation with Jordan on localizing autism treatment (libyaherald.com)Libyan Turkish Hospital in Misrata opens: to set new healthcare standard in Libya (libyaherald.com)National Centre for Health System Reform (NCHSR) holds workshop on developing the Libyan health system (libyaherald.com)Serraj government’s catastrophic failure to reform Libya’s healthcare: Analysis (libyaherald.com)Tripoli University Hospital struggling with no budget and huge debts – continuing through private donations | (libyaherald.com)Tripoli University Hospital’s Orthopaedic Department launches remote educational service | (libyaherald.com)Italian company signs contract to maintain infrastructure of Tripoli University Hospital | (libyaherald.com)Libya to recruit 150 Filipino first phase nurses for Tripoli University Hospital | (libyaherald.com)Tripoli University Hospital to recruit 850 foreign nurses | (libyaherald.com)Tripoli Medical Centre converted into a independent university hospital under direct control of PC | (libyaherald.com)New head of TMC appointed – part of continued health reform programme | (libyaherald.com)Austrian medical services company Vamed signs maintenance contract with Tripoli Medical Centre | (libyaherald.com)Serraj spells out reforms needed by Libyan healthcare system | (libyaherald.com)
Source:Libya Today
January 16, 2024 09:43 UTC
Japanese Embassy resumes it work from Tripoli
The Embassy of Japan in Libya announced today that it has resumed its work on Libyan soil effective today. Visas will continue to be issued elsewhere in the meantime until the embassy expands its premises. In its statement, it said that ‘‘with tireless support from our Libyan counterparts and Japan’s strong commitment, the Embassy has finally achieved its aim to resume Japan’s diplomatic activities in Libya after its evacuation in 2014’’. ‘‘Since the establishment of diplomatic relation between Libya and Japan in 1957, the two countries have developed a solid bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interests. VISA applications shall be processed at the embassies or consulate general of Japan in Tunisia, Egypt or Istanbul.”
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2024 21:15 UTC
Oil drops more than 1% despite Middle East conflict
Oil prices lost more than 1% on Monday as the Middle East conflict’s limited impact on crude output prompted profit taking after oil benchmarks gained 2% last week. The conflict has also held up at least four liquefied natural gas tankers travelling in the area. “The realisation that oil supply has not been adversely impacted is leading last week’s bulls to take profit, with the move down somewhat exacerbated by a slightly stronger dollar,” said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. On Sunday the Houthi militia threatened a “strong and effective response” after the United States carried out another strike overnight. The economic situation also remains gloomy somewhat and the European Central Bank (ECB) last weekend warned against cutting interest rates too fast.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2024 20:27 UTC
Libya to roll out licensing rounds for domestic and international tenders
Libya to roll out licensing rounds for domestic and international tendersSpeakers participating during a finance panel at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) shared that the country’s planned licensing rounds – for domestic companies as well as an international tender – will be launched soon, in line with national targets to more than double oil productionLibya is well positioned to rebuild its economy on the back of hydrocarbons and enhanced local participation. The country is ready to welcome foreign investment, with the government recently implementing a series of legislative reforms while advancing infrastructure development and the deployment of renewable energy. Ahmed Gaddah, Partner at Eltumi Partners, stated that, “Libya has great potential, and we have local capacity with Libyan insurers and contractors." Meanwhile, for the local economy, oil and gas is integral, representing the key to bolstering energy access, industrialisation and long-term gross domestic product growth. Abundant renewable energy potential has already begun to attract foreign players, while the government remains committed to steering an energy transition through low-carbon solutions.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2024 13:05 UTC
Libya’s NOC, Algeria’s Sonatrach extend oil production agreement to compensate for force majeure period
The Libyan National Oil Corporation’s Chairman, Farhat Bengdara, and the Algerian state Sonatrach Company’s General Director, Rachid Hachichi, signed today annexes to extend the Exploration Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) agreements for Area 95/96 and Area 65, to compensate Sonatrach for the suspension period due to the force majeure situation, according to the Government of National Unity (GNU). The government media page said the NOC indicated that the goal is to enable Sonatrach to return to completing its contractual obligations as quickly as possible, following its announcement of lifting the state of force majeure on 7th November 2023, for the contractual areas (95/96) and (65), GNU said in a statement today.
Source:Libya Today
January 14, 2024 23:15 UTC
UN facilitates workshop discussing role of Libyan legislative bodies, civil society in security sector
UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) facilitated a workshop of members from the House of Representatives (HoR) and High Council of State (HCS) with military, security, and civil society actors on 9 and 10 January, advancing security sector reform and governance in Libya. The workshop discussed the role of legislative bodies & civil society in security sector reform and the importance of coordination among all relevant actors. It also recognized the crucial role of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in implementing the 2020 Ceasefire Agreement, according to UNSMIL. The workshop concluded with recommendations from the HoR and HCS participants, setting out principles and steps in the common pursuit of effective security reform in Libya, the Mission said in a statement.
Source:Libya Today
January 14, 2024 20:27 UTC
NOC extends Sonatrach’s EPSA agreement to compensate for force majeure period
The Tripoli based Libyan government media page reported that the Chairman of the state National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara, and the General Director of the Algerian state Sonatrach Company, Rachid Hachichi, signed today the annexes to extend the Exploration Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) agreements for Area 95/96 and Area 65, to compensate Sonatrach for the suspension period due to the force majeure situation. The government media page said the NOC indicated that the goal is to enable Sonatrach to return to completing its contractual obligations as quickly as possible, following its announcement of lifting the state of force majeure on 7th November 2023, for the contractual areas (95/96) and (65).
Source:Libya Today
January 14, 2024 19:53 UTC
Oilinvest launches one million tree forestation initiative in Libya for Greenhouse Gas Removal
Libya’s Oilinvest Group announced yesterday the launch of a tree forestation project in Libya of one million trees. Carbon creditsThis collaboration, Oilinvest explained, aims to generate carbon credits to contribute to Oilinvest’s commitment to climate change mitigation and at the same time combat the adverse effects of deforestation and desertification. Through its portfolio, the Oilinvest Group supplies, trades, refines, and markets petroleum products in 5 European territories: Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Once completed and fully grown, it is estimated that 1 million trees can absorb more than 10 million kilograms of CO2 per year, Oilinvest added. Ministry of Planning confirms development of integrated plan to plant 100 million trees by 2030 (libyaherald.com)The 2023-24 tree planting season launched to activate the 100 million trees by 2030 initiative (libyaherald.com)Tree-planting campaign launched in Sirte (libyaherald.com)Gharian to plant one million olive trees and 500k almond trees (libyaherald.com)
Source:Libya Today
January 14, 2024 19:18 UTC