Libya, Malta deepen energy ties

In a renewed diplomatic overture,Libya and Malta have initiated a dialogue aimed at reinforcing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector,signaling a broader Mediterranean alignment on oil and gas development.

Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas,Khalifa Abdelsadeq,met with Malta’s Ambassador to Libya,Charles Saliba,on Monday May 5 to explore avenues for mutual investment in hydrocarbons and related energy infrastructure. The high-level talks reflect Libya’s ongoing efforts to reassert its position as a key energy hub,as it seeks to draw in strategic foreign capital to revitalize its resource-rich yet underutilized sector.

Central to the discussions was Libya’s active licensing round,the first of its kind since 2007,which has placed 22 exploration blocks—split between offshore zones and inland regions—on offer to global investors. Minister Abdelsadeq underscored the country’s readiness to receive foreign participation,reiterating the National Oil Corporation’s ambition to increase daily output to two million barrels. Against this backdrop,both Libya and Malta see a unique opportunity to leverage historical ties and regional proximity to cultivate deeper economic synergy,particularly in upstream exploration and joint venture development.

Looking ahead,Libya has proposed the formation of a joint economic forum facilitated by the Maltese embassy,with the goal of galvanizing private sector collaboration across both nations. Such a platform,envisioned as a nexus for knowledge exchange and strategic alliance-building,would symbolize a pragmatic step towards economic re-engagement after years of instability. As Libya eyes a return to global energy relevance,this dialogue with Malta epitomizes a broader aspiration—to recast itself as a credible and attractive partner within the evolving Mediterranean energy landscape.