BP and Shell have signed separate memorandums of understanding with Libya’s National Oil Corp. to carry out technical and economic studies on three oilfields—Sarir, Messla and Atshan—as well as adjacent exploration blocks. The agreements, announced on 8 July, aim to evaluate options for redeveloping the long-standing Sarir and Messla fields and determining the commercial viability of the Atshan field, which is fully owned by NOC. The move signals a further return of foreign investment to Libya’s energy sector after years of conflict-related disruptions. BP also intends to reopen its Tripoli office in the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring its commitment to the market. Libya, OPEC’s second-largest African producer, is currently pumping about 1.385 million barrels of crude a day, according to NOC.