Pakistan has urged domestic refineries to explore importing crude oil from Libya as the country seeks to diversify its energy supplies amid global disruptions. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said Libya was willing to encourage its national oil company to allocate larger volumes of crude oil to Pakistani buyers.
The development followed a meeting between Malik and Libyan Oil and Gas Minister Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek on the sidelines of the 17th International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh. Both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in the oil and gas sector, with Pakistan highlighting the need for alternative supply routes amid potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Abdulsadek also expressed interest in learning from Pakistan’s experience in refinery modernization, as Libya plans to upgrade its own refining facilities. The proposed cooperation could help expand crude oil sourcing options for Pakistani refineries, although no specific import volumes or supply agreements were announced.
Separately, Malik held discussions with Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi on potential cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG). Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also announced plans to visit Pakistan next month to receive a seismic vessel operated by Türkiye’s national oil company, TPAO, which is expected to begin data collection in the Indus Basin.
Addressing the energy forum, Malik said global supply disruptions had affected oil, gas, shipping and insurance. He added that Pakistan was pursuing strategic reserves, increased domestic production, refinery investment and expanded storage capacity to strengthen long-term energy security.