Locals link Libya to global markets

Libya

Ibraheim Mejerissi, managing director of Wazen Oil Services, talks to The Energy Year about Libya’s opportunity to increase gas exports to Europe and the role local service providers can play as international operators expand their activities in the country.

Wazen Oil Services provides oil and gas engineering, maintenance, measurement, automation and project delivery services in Libya.

• Libya has a timely opportunity to strengthen its role as an energy supplier to Europe. Long-standing relationships give the country a powerful platform to increase gas exports if investments towards upgrading existing export infrastructure materialise.
• Infrastructure modernisations are driving demand for oilfield services and equipment as operators seek efficiency improvements and more accurate monitoring of operations through metering and automation solutions.
• The know-how of local firms will be central to placing Libya’s upstream on a sustainable growth path, and there is movement in the sector to secure partnerships that improve access and efficiency for international operators and provide opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity building for domestic companies.

How can Libya capitalise on its position as an alternative energy source for Europe?
Timing is important. Global energy markets continue to seek diversified and reliable sources of supply, and Libya is well positioned to contribute given its significant hydrocarbon reserves, strategic location and proximity to European markets.
One of Libya’s greatest advantages is that much of the required infrastructure already exists. We already have a direct connection to Europe through the Greenstream pipeline to Italy, established export routes and decades-long relationships with international operators that understand the opportunities and challenges of working in Libya. We are not starting from scratch; we can build on the infrastructure, operational experience and commercial relationships relatively quickly.
In 2026, we have seen renewed commitments through the exploration bid rounds and greater international interest. The opportunity now is to build on that momentum by continuing to improve transparency, providing a stable framework for investment and ensuring that infrastructure upgrades keep pace with production ambitions. If those elements come together, Libya is well-positioned to strengthen its role as a reliable energy supplier to Europe and create long-term value for the country and international partners.

What role can Wazen Oil Services and other indigenous providers play as IOCs return to the country?
Domestic companies play an important role in helping international operators navigate Libya’s upstream sector. We understand the operating environment, the logistical challenges and the practical realities of executing work across different regions of the country. Wazen, for example, is present in eastern, western and southern Libya with infrastructure, personnel and systems that allow us to mobilise quickly and provide support wherever it is needed.
For us, one of the biggest opportunities is knowledge transfer. Developing local capability is essential to the long-term success of the sector. There is little value in installing advanced technology if local teams are not equipped to operate, maintain and optimise it over the long term. The strongest partnerships are those that leave behind not only infrastructure and production gains, but also stronger local capability.
On one project in the Sahara, a foreign engineer was due to travel to Libya for commissioning, but his head office prevented him from travelling on the day he was meant to arrive. Our commissioning engineer worked remotely with him to complete the process successfully with no delays, in a demonstration of how combining international expertise and capable local teams can yield solutions in challenging environments.

How did Wazen evolve from supply chain services into oilfield work?
Wazen’s evolution was driven by a desire to create greater value for our clients. We initially operated as a trading and supply chain company for Libya’s oil and gas sector. However, we realised that the greatest value was not created by supplying equipment, but by helping clients install, commission, maintain and optimise it throughout its lifecycle.
That led us to invest in technical, project execution and logistics capabilities, as well as digital and organisational systems. As our experience grew, so did the scope of services we could offer, and today, our activities extend into maintenance services, project execution, metering and measurement solutions, automation and monitoring systems, rotating equipment projects, tank construction, field services and broader engineering support services.

Which of your services are most in demand today?
Demand today is largely being driven by Libya’s focus on increasing production, improving operational efficiency and upgrading existing infrastructure.
We are seeing strong demand for services that help operators improve field performance and production visibility, and that support production growth. This includes field monitoring systems, well monitoring services, gas lift optimisation installations, infrastructure upgrades, flowlines, tie-ins and projects that connect existing wells to new processing facilities.
Over the past year, the sector has pushed to increase production, and that has created opportunities across construction, maintenance and facility modification projects. With our operational camps in Sarir, Messla, Gialo and El Sharara, as well as temporary facilities supporting projects in Ras Lanuf and the Mellitah Complex, and the Hariga Terminal, we can mobilise resources and support operations across multiple regions.
We are also supporting environmental management and operational optimisation projects such as the installation of water handling and injection systems, and the execution of site surveys for engineering studies to identify bottlenecks and prioritise investments.
Metering is another area receiving increased attention. Modern measurement systems are essential for operational accountability, production monitoring and export verification. As Libya continues to modernise and upgrade its infrastructure, we expect demand for metering, measurement and automation solutions to continue growing.

Are you pursuing any partnerships in the region?
We are in dialogue with regional and international organisations and continue to work with existing partners across several areas of our business. Over the years, we have gained experience in Egypt, where we have supplied equipment and explored manufacturing opportunities, as well as in Nigeria and Malta.
Libya remains an important and attractive market, and we expect production to continue increasing as investments and exploration activity progress. Discussions around marginal field development could create further opportunities for us, and we also see opportunities in offshore support services.
More broadly, we remain optimistic about the future of Libya’s energy sector. The country has significant resources, growing international interest and substantial untapped potential. However, long-term success will depend not only on attracting investment and increasing production, but also on developing local capability, transferring knowledge and strengthening the national companies that support the sector’s growth.

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