Libya

OMV has been present in Libya since 1975 and undertook a major expansion in 1985 when it acquired 25% of Occidental Petroleum’s producing assets in the country.

In 1994 and 1997 OMV signed Exploration & Production Sharing Agreements (EPSA) for blocks NC115 and NC186 with partners Repsol, TOTAL and Statoil. Exploration is ongoing in these fields and several infill drilling projects are being implemented.

In 2008 several EPSA agreements were renewed. OMV extended the agreements until 2032 and will take part in significant redevelopment projects, such as the Nafoora field redevelopment. The projects aim to boost production by applying latest improved and enhanced oil recovery technologies, drilling of several hundred wells and the upgrade of facilities.

Due to the Arab Spring OMV evacuated its expatriated staff in February 2011 and was one of the first international oil companies to return when it re-opened its Tripoli office in November 2011. Production reached 90% of pre conflict levels by January 2012. Production remains volatile as interruptions due to civil unrest can happen.
The company has built strong relations with and in Libya over many decades. OMV’s core competencies of managing, operating and optimizing mature oilfields can be applied in the many projects that OMV is part of in Libya.

OMV has worked closely with the Libyan government on social projects including the development of a hospital in Ubari, a blind school in Tripoli and more recently the OMV Libya Youth Centre in Tripoli which was set up to help the young generation particularly those who were psychologically affected by the conflict.