• NOC announces three discoveries with Eni, Repsol, and Sonatrach

• Finds include two gas discoveries and one oil discovery across key basins

• Momentum builds as Libya pushes to raise output to 1.6 million b/d

Libya has announced three new oil and gas discoveries, highlighting a renewed push in exploration activity with foreign partners.

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on April 8 that the discoveries were made in collaboration with Eni, Repsol, and Sonatrach across multiple basins.

The first discovery is a gas find from the A1-69/02 exploration well in Block 95/96 of the Ghadames Basin, near the Algerian border. According to the NOC, production tests conducted by Sonatrach showed output of 13 million cubic feet of gas per day along with 327 barrels of condensate.

A second gas discovery was made offshore in Block D, located about 95 kilometers from the Libyan coast. Operated with Eni, the site produced between 14 and 24 million cubic feet of gas per day during testing following the drilling of the J1-4/16 well.

The third discovery, in the Murzuq Basin, confirmed the presence of oil. Tests at the J1-4/130 well, operated with Repsol in the 131/130 contract area, yielded 763 barrels per day.

The NOC noted that these figures reflect initial post-drilling test results. Further testing will be required to determine the full extent of the reserves and assess their commercial viability.

The announcements come amid a broader uptick in exploration activity in Libya.

In March 2026, Eni reported a discovery of more than 1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Earlier, in November 2025, the NOC announced another oil and gas find in the Ghadames Basin.

At the same time, Libya is opening new exploration areas. In late March 2026, U.S. major Chevron was tasked with assessing the offshore NC146 block. The move is part of the country’s first oil and gas licensing round since 2007, which has attracted strong interest from international companies.

Results published in February 2026 show Chevron securing the onshore Syrte S4 block, while Eni and QatarEnergy were awarded the offshore Block 01.

This renewed momentum supports Libya’s broader ambition to raise oil production to 1.6 million barrels per day by the end of 2026, according to government targets.

Abdel-Latif Boureima