Libya’s drive to modernize its oil and gas sector and attract fresh international investment is taking center stage at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026, which has confirmed the participation of senior legal, advisory and energy-sector figures.
LEES 2026 will convene key decision-makers as the country reshapes its fiscal, regulatory, and investment framework with the goal of cementing its position as a competitive global hydrocarbons destination. The confirmed speakers include:
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Dr. Khaled Ben Othman, Chairman, Libyan Council for Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy (LCOGRE)
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Fatima Swehli, Managing Director, FS Legal Services
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Khalil Gentara, Director of Business Development, Moore AR Tunisia
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Gurkaran Singh, Partner – Strategy, Practice Development & Client Relations, Moore JFC Group Dubai
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Thomas Strouse, CEO, Strouse Energy Advisory
Their participation comes at a decisive moment for Libya’s energy industry. In 2025, the country launched its first international upstream licensing round in nearly 20 years, offering 22 onshore and offshore blocks as part of plans to lift production capacity toward 2 million barrels per day by 2030.
In parallel, the National Oil Corporation introduced a modernized production sharing agreement model, replacing the legacy EPSA-IV framework and improving investor economics through more attractive internal rates of return, faster cost recovery, and a more competitive government take.
Private-sector engagement will be strongly represented through LCOGRE under Dr. Othman’s leadership, with the council advocating increased SME participation, renewable integration, and stronger public-private collaboration to ensure local companies play a leading role in upcoming projects.
Regulatory clarity is expected to be a key focus of the 2026 summit. FS Legal Services will contribute expertise spanning Libya, the UAE, and the UK on transactions, compliance, labor law, and sanctions regimes — capabilities that have become increasingly important following the adoption of unified drilling regulations in December 2025, covering exploration through decommissioning.
A broader regional lens will be provided by Moore AR Tunisia and Moore JFC Group, which are set to share insights on cross-border structuring, governance, risk management, and fiscal optimization, reflecting closer commercial ties between Libya, Tunisia, and Gulf markets. Strouse Energy Advisory will add upstream market intelligence, with emphasis on mature and marginal field optimization and geopolitical risk assessment — critical issues for investors weighing opportunities within Libya’s evolving operating environment.
Summit organizers noted that the combined expertise of these leaders is expected to support Libya’s next phase of hydrocarbon development, highlighting the event’s role in advancing investment, regulatory certainty, and cross-border cooperation in the energy sector.
