Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has restarted the Brega refinery and a natural gas processing unit following major maintenance works, while bringing the Al-Rashad gas field into production. The developments are expected to improve domestic energy supplies, increase the utilisation of natural gas and reduce flaring at one of the country’s key energy facilities.
NOC Chairman Masoud Suleiman announced the developments on 25 October, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the first oil shipment exported from Brega port in 1961. The Al-Rashad field, located south of Brega, has a production capacity of 50 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d), with its output designated for power generation and industrial consumption.
The refinery and processing unit are operated by Sirte Oil Company, an NOC subsidiary, and their return to service marks a step towards restoring the operational capacity of the Brega energy complex.
The Al-Rashad gas field has officially come online with a production capacity of 50 mmcf/d. Its output is intended to support natural gas supplies for power plants and industrial users, helping meet domestic demand.
The field's development comes as Libya continues to face challenges in maintaining reliable energy supplies, particularly for electricity generation and industrial activity. Increasing domestic gas availability is therefore an important part of improving the reliability of the country's energy system.
The Brega refinery has resumed operations following an extended shutdown and a comprehensive maintenance programme.
The overhaul included replacing the refinery's catalyst, upgrading its control systems and installing a new control room. These works were aimed at restoring the facility's operational capabilities and supporting more reliable refining operations.
The restart is significant for Libya's downstream sector, where ageing infrastructure and prolonged operational disruptions have limited domestic processing capacity.
Alongside the refinery restart, Sirte Oil Company has also brought the natural gas processing unit at the Brega complex back into operation after several years offline.
The facility is designed to process 60 mmcf/d of natural gas and transfer it into the national gas network instead of allowing it to be flared.
The restart addresses two important challenges facing Libya's energy sector: the loss of valuable natural gas through flaring and the need to increase supplies available for domestic consumption.
By recovering and processing this gas, the facility can contribute to improving resource efficiency while reducing emissions associated with routine flaring.
The simultaneous restart of the Brega refinery and gas processing unit, together with the commissioning of the Al-Rashad field, represents progress in restoring Libya's downstream and midstream infrastructure.
The additional gas production from Al-Rashad and the processing capacity restored at Brega could help strengthen domestic supply, particularly for power generation and industrial users. Redirecting 60 mmcf/d away from flaring also offers an opportunity to recover resources that would otherwise be wasted.
For Libya's energy sector, the development demonstrates the importance of investing in existing infrastructure alongside bringing new production assets online. However, the longer-term impact will depend on the facilities sustaining operations, maintaining production levels and ensuring that additional gas reaches end users.
For international energy companies and investors, the return of these facilities provides a positive indication of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate Libya's energy infrastructure, although operational stability and the broader investment environment will remain important considerations.
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