TotalEnergies reopens Libya oil field after decade, boosting Africa output

TotalEnergies has resumed production at Libya’s Mabruk oil field, bringing a key asset back online nearly 10 years after it was shut down during conflict.

The restart adds fresh supply to Africa’s oil market and points to improving conditions for energy investment in the country. 

The return of output reflects Libya’s slow recovery after years of disruption that forced international oil companies to scale back operations.

As stability improves, global producers are beginning to re-engage with one of Africa’s largest crude holders. 

For investors and policymakers, the development highlights Libya’s importance to global energy supply at a time when producers are under pressure to meet demand and secure new sources of output. 

It also underscores a broader push across Africa to lift oil production, draw foreign capital and strengthen the continent’s role in global energy markets. 

For TotalEnergies, the move supports its plan to grow output steadily while focusing on projects that are cost-efficient and less carbon intensive.

Field returns after years of shutdown 

Production at the Mabruk field, where TotalEnergies holds a 37.5 percent stake, resumed on Feb. 28, 2026, at about 25,000 barrels per day.

The field had been offline since 2015, when operations were halted during the Libyan Civil War. 

The site lies about 130 kilometers south of Sirte in concession C17.

Work on a new production unit began in May 2024, following a period of relative calm that allowed companies to return and rebuild damaged infrastructure. 

Julien Pouget, the company’s Middle East and North Africa director for exploration and production, said the project will help TotalEnergies maintain annual output growth of about 3 percent through 2030. 

TotalEnergies has operated in Libya for decades and remains involved in several assets, including the Waha concessions and offshore fields.

In 2025, it produced around 113,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the country.

Libya targets higher output 

Libya’s oil sector is showing signs of recovery. Data from the National Oil Corporation shows the country reached its highest average production in more than 10 years in 2025, at 1.374 million barrels per day.

Total output for the year stood at about 501 million barrels. 

The government is aiming to raise production to 2 million barrels per day by 2028, relying in part on renewed interest from major energy companies. 

Firms including Shell, ExxonMobil and Chevron have signed agreements to study exploration prospects and offshore blocks. 

Those deals point to a gradual return of international oil companies, as Libya works to rebuild output and reassert its role in Africa’s energy landscape.