Libya regains control of Ras Lanuf refinery after dispute lasting more than a decade with UAE company
Ras Lanuf oil complex: Ending a partnership that lasted since 2009 between Libya and a UAE company
The National Oil Corporation of Libya (NOC) announced the full restoration of control over the Ras Lanuf refinery and oil complex, after signing a final agreement with the international company “Trasta,” headquartered in the UAE, thus ending a legal and arbitral dispute that lasted for more than a decade .
Ending a partnership that lasted since 2009
The partnership between the National Oil Corporation and Trasta dates back to an agreement signed in 2009 . The agreement, signed by NOC Chairman Masoud Suleiman, provides for ending the foreign partnership within LERCO – a joint venture established to operate and develop the Ras Lanuf complex – whereby all shares of the Emirati partner will be transferred to the National Oil Corporation, returning full management of the entire complex to Libyan sovereignty for the first time in years.
Suleiman described the agreement as “one of the most important developments in the Libyan oil sector since 2011,” saying it resolves “one of the most complex files” in the Libyan oil and gas sector, considering it a “great national achievement” reflecting the ability of Libyan expertise to protect state rights and recover its strategic assets through legal and negotiating channels .
Background of the dispute: its link to political division and UAE support for Haftar
Sources indicate that the dispute over the Ras Lanuf complex was not just a commercial disagreement, but was linked to the deep political division in Libya.
Libyan analysts and officials linked the tensions surrounding the project to UAE support for military commander Khalifa Haftar, who challenged the authority of the internationally recognized government in Tripoli .
The Ras Lanuf complex is located in the strategic “Oil Crescent” region on Libya’s northeastern coast, an area often under Haftar’s control. Officials in Tripoli viewed the partnership with an Emirati company as a strategic risk, due to Libya’s heavy reliance on oil revenues and the importance of maintaining national control over vital energy infrastructure .
When did the complex stop operating?
LERCO was established as a joint venture to operate and develop the Ras Lanuf complex, but operations stopped after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, and the project later became entangled in legal disputes and “force majeure” declarations. The refinery had been completely out of service since 2013 due to legal and administrative disputes, not for technical or security reasons .
Capabilities of the Ras Lanuf complex: figures and dimensions
The Ras Lanuf complex is one of the largest oil and industrial complexes in Libya and North Africa, with an estimated refining capacity of about 220,000 barrels of oil per day, representing more than two-thirds of Libya’s total refining capacity .
In addition to the refinery, which entered service in 1984, the complex includes petrochemical units, including an ethylene unit with a capacity of 1.2 million tons per year, polyethylene production units, storage facilities, export terminals, and a berth at Ras Lanuf port .
While the refinery remains idle, Libyan technical teams have recently succeeded in restarting the petrochemical units, with the second polyethylene production line brought back online after more than 12 years of stoppage .
Paving the way for a new phase
NOC officials expressed hope that the agreement would help stabilize production, restore confidence in Libya’s energy sector, and attract new investment to areas affected by years of conflict and political fragmentation . The agreement also paves the way for a new phase of rehabilitation, operation, and development, restoring the complex to its position as one of the most important refining and petrochemical centers in the region .
(1/2) 🔵 #المؤسسة_الوطنية_للنفط تعلن استعادة السيطرة الكاملة على مصفاة ومجمع #رأس_لانوف بعد توقيع اتفاق نهائي مع شركة “#تراستا”، يقضي بإنهاء الشراكة الأجنبية وخروج الشريك الأجنبي نهائيًا من شركة #ليركو. يتبع⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5GYg0wwgYI
— تحت طاولة المؤسسة الوطنية للنفط (@h5PITEOcChu9esY) May 11, 2026
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