Libya, home to vast oil reserves, is turning to renewable energy to meet rising electricity demand and plans to rely on strategic partner T眉rkiye for technological expertise and investment.
With a population of about 7 million, Libya鈥檚 electricity demand has outstripped the capacity of its oil and gas-powered plants. The North African country aims to diversify its energy mix by increasing the share of renewable sources, particularly solar and wind.
Libya鈥檚 renewable energy strategy aims to achieve 4 gigawatts of capacity by 2035, representing 20% of the country鈥檚 energy portfolio. This ambitious plan leverages Libya鈥檚 vast solar and wind resources, but its success hinges on international partnerships and collaboration.
T眉rkiye, with its deep historical ties to Libya and extensive expertise in renewable energy, is emerging as a key partner in shaping the country鈥檚 energy future.
- "Strong projects with Turkish firms"
Abdusselam Elansari, head of Renewable Energy Authority of Libya said the country鈥檚 energy cooperation with T眉rkiye is rooted in shared history.
"We are cooperating with different Turkish companies in terms of electricity, power, and renewable energy. Indeed, as renewable energy strategy that we have launched, our plan is to cooperate with different companies from different countries. We have priority for the Turkish companies. 鈥淲e have discussed with two or three big Turkish companies," Elansari told Anadolu.
He emphasized the focus on knowledge transfer and capacity building with Turkish partners.
"We have started a capacity building to train our people with Turkish company in the fields of human resources, renewable energy, technical renewable energy, electricity connection, performance excellence, and other sectors of cooperation," he added.
Asked if there are any cross-border energy trade projects between T眉rkiye and Libya, Elansari said Libya has the issue on its agenda and 鈥渉ope to find a way in the near future鈥�.
On regional energy trade, Elansari noted Libya鈥檚 participation in the Mediterranean Transmission System Operators (Med-TSO) platform, where T眉rkiye plays a critical role.
鈥淲e are exchanging ideas on how to make the electricity and energy trading between all those countries,鈥� he said.
Elansari called on Turkish companies to take part in energy projects in his country.
鈥淚 am encouraging the Turkish company to come to Libya," he said. "There is opportunities and we are welcome to host all these companies"
- Collaboration with Turkish institutions
Osama El Durrat, Advisor to the Libyan Prime Minister for Electricity and Renewable Energy Affairs, highlighted Libya鈥檚 ongoing dialogue with Turkish firms.
鈥淲e have signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish companies to transfer expertise and technology in renewable energy. Turkish firms lead in solar panel and wind turbine production,鈥� Durrat told Anadolu.
He noted that Libya is also working with Turkish companies on gas- and fossil fuel-powered turbines.
鈥淭urkiye is a leader in this field. We are in talks with Turkish institutions to finalize agreements for investments in solar and wind energy,鈥� he said.
Durrat revealed that a dedicated zone in eastern Tripoli has been allocated for renewable energy investments, where Turkish companies are expected to play a major role.
Describing Turkish firms as 鈥渒ey partners鈥� in Libya鈥檚 critical infrastructure projects, Durrat said, 鈥淭urkish companies have a strong presence in Libya鈥檚 electricity grid and production facilities.鈥�
- Cross-border power connection on the agenda
Libya is exploring the possibility of connecting its power grid with neighboring countries and T眉rkiye, according to Durrat.
鈥淎 committee is being formed to advance cross-border electricity interconnections. We have signed agreements with several southern European and Mediterranean countries. As for T眉rkiye, we believe the connection could be facilitated through a neighboring country, enabling energy transfer between Libya and T眉rkiye,鈥� he said.
The potential for a Libya-T眉rkiye electricity link is under discussion, and Durrat expressed hope that 鈥渁n agreement could soon be reached.鈥�
By Sibel Morrow and Firdevs Yuksel in Tripoli
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr