Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Libya and Egypt have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector, marking a significant step in strengthening energy ties between the neighboring countries. The agreement, signed during the opening of the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026 in Tripoli, was finalized by Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, and Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment with Egypt to deepen regional cooperation, exchange expertise, and build stronger energy institutions that support production growth, energy security, and sustainable development,” said Libya’s Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibeh, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership for both nations.
The MoU sets a framework for expanding technical cooperation, capacity building, and joint initiatives across upstream, midstream, and downstream activities. It is designed to leverage the countries’ respective experience, infrastructure, and technical expertise to optimize production, enhance energy security, and promote sustainable development within the sector.
Officials emphasized that the agreement is expected to facilitate closer alignment between Libya’s National Oil Corporation and Egypt’s petroleum institutions, opening new avenues for collaboration in exploration, production optimization, training, and technology transfer. Analysts note that such regional partnerships are increasingly vital as Libya seeks to attract investment and accelerate the development of its energy sector following years of political and economic challenges.
The MoU follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at reinforcing strategic energy cooperation. Earlier this month, Minister Abdulsadek met with Egypt’s chargé d’affaires in Tripoli to discuss strengthening institutional coordination, identifying joint investment opportunities, and expanding technical collaboration between the two countries’ energy institutions.
Energy experts describe the agreement as a reflection of a broader trend in North Africa, where neighboring countries are pursuing collaborative approaches to address regional energy security, infrastructure modernization, and sustainable development. With Libya and Egypt both playing key roles in regional energy markets, closer cooperation in oil and gas could have far-reaching economic and geopolitical implications.
