Where We Work / Libya
Featured market · Resident teams in Tripoli and Benghazi
Doing Business in Libya
Libya holds Africa's largest proven oil reserves and in February 2026 awarded its first oil and gas exploration licenses since 2007. ISI's resident teams in Tripoli and Benghazi help Western companies register with buyers, win contracts and deliver them.
Why Libya now
Investment across oil and gas, power and infrastructure
Oil & Gas
- A national target of 2 million barrels a day by the early 2030s, up from a 2026 peak of about 1.4 million, the highest in more than a decade.
- Upstream licensing has reopened, with the first awards since 2007 made in February 2026 and further blocks to be offered.
- A priority on gas development, to capture associated gas, reduce flaring and supply power generation.
Power
- Peak demand exceeds available generation, and summer 2026 brought generation losses of more than 1,000 MW and repeated blackouts.
- Programs to add gas-fired capacity, rehabilitate the grid and develop about 4 GW of renewable power by 2035.
Infrastructure
- Reconstruction and development programs in both the west and the east, covering housing, roads, water, schools and hospitals.
- The 2026 unified national budget includes about 40 billion dinars for development projects.
Working in Libya
What to expect, and how we take you through it
One market, two administrations
Government is divided between administrations based in Tripoli and in the east, and decision-makers in oil, power and reconstruction sit on both sides.
Our teams in Tripoli and Benghazi maintain established networks in both the west and the east of the country.
Two routes to the same buyer
Operating companies of the National Oil Corporation register suppliers and buy directly, while projects operated with international oil companies often buy through the international partner's supply chain.
We register you with the operating companies and joint ventures that buy what you sell.
Security is planned in advance
Most business meetings take place in Tripoli and Benghazi, where UK travel advice allows essential business travel, and visits to oil fields and remote sites need security planning and escorts. Check current U.S. and UK travel advice before each trip.
We advise on security, arrange vetted security providers and plan each visit, from airport arrival to site access.
Events bring buyers together
Industry events such as the Libya Energy & Economic Summit in Tripoli draw buyers from across the country, and Libyan buyers also meet suppliers at events in neighboring countries.
We arrange meeting programs around these events and follow up in Libya.
Visits start with an invitation
Business visas require a sponsor or invitation from a Libyan company. Depending on nationality, they are issued through Libya's e-visa platform or a Libyan embassy, and a visa issued by one administration may not be accepted in areas run by the other.
We provide invitations and take you through the right application for your route into the country.
Representation shapes the route
Commercial agency arrangements are held by Libyan entities, and foreign companies may open branches in specified sectors such as oil and gas, power and construction.
We structure the right route with you, whether a direct sale, a Libyan partner or a local entity.
Business is conducted in Arabic and English
Arabic is used for government and contract documents, and English is widely used in the oil sector.
Our team works in both.
ISI in Libya
Our teams in Tripoli and Benghazi
Our resident team in Libya, along with our partners across the energy, power and infrastructure sectors, supports clients with intelligence and strategy, business development and representation, and execution and operations, whether they are new to the market or already working in it.
Recent work in Libya includes presence and bid support for upstream oil and gas entry.
See what we do →Coming soon
Doing Business in Libya: 2027 Briefing
Buyers, registration, representation, security and travel for Western suppliers to Libya's oil, gas, power and infrastructure sectors. Leave your details and we will send it when it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Questions Western companies ask us about Libya
Do we need a Libyan agent or partner?
In our experience, most Western companies work with a registered Libyan partner or agent to maintain buyer relationships and support delivery. The right structure depends on your product, your buyers and how the work will be delivered, and we help you decide.
How do we reach Libyan buyers?
Through supplier registration with the National Oil Corporation operating companies and international joint ventures that buy what you sell, followed by technical presentations and meetings in Tripoli, Benghazi and at industry events.
Which sectors are most active?
Oil and gas, followed by power generation and grid, and infrastructure and reconstruction.
Does ISI work outside Libya?
Yes. Libya is one of more than 40 countries in which our team has project experience. See where we work.
Working in Libya, or considering it?
Talk to our Libya team about your target buyers and how to reach them.
Talk to our Libya team →