Beijing moves ahead of rivals in Libya’s green energy race

While global powers compete to divide energy resources in Libya, Beijing seems to be moving ahead by focusing on cooperation in renewable energy.

According to the Libya Herald on May 1, the Renewable Energy Authority of Libya (REAoL) reported that it held “a significant” meeting on April 28th at its headquarters in Tripoli with a high-level Chinese delegation. The meeting aimed to strengthen international partnerships, expand cooperation in clean energy, and promote the exchange of technical and technological expertise.

Members of the Chinese delegation expressed strong interest in Libya, particularly concerning the solar energy sector, commending the country’s strategic geographic position and extensive natural resources. They also emphasised the readiness of Chinese companies to enter strategic partnerships with Libya and to implement joint projects that would facilitate the transfer of technology, boost the national economy, and create local employment opportunities.

However, Beijing has already laid the foundations for deeper cooperation with Tripoli. The most important diplomatic step was the reopening of the Chinese embassy in Libya in November 2025. Since then, cooperation between the two countries has steadily intensified. On March 20 in Beijing, representatives of the People’s Republic of China and Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) established a joint committee.

Reportedly, the talks signal that Tripoli is looking eastwards for reconstruction support, diplomatic leverage, and a long-term strategic partnership. The two sides agreed to create a joint committee to strengthen political coordination and expand international cooperation, while also discussing governance, infrastructure development, and the return of Chinese public and private companies to operate in Libya.

China’s interest in the North African country has also grown following the war launched by Israel and the US against Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Beijing has intensified efforts to diversify its energy supply chains and reduce exposure to regional disruptions. The conflict has highlighted China’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern oil, with roughly half of its crude imports originating from the region, much of it passing through the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz.

For this reason, on April 7 Beijing launched a new shipping corridor linking Qingdao Port to Libya via Egypt, reducing transit times by up to ten days while bypassing one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints.

Yet China’s strategy extends across the entire African continent. A major turning point came in February, when Beijing eliminated tariffs on imports from 53 African countries, including Libya, covering 100% of customs lines without exception. The policy grants these nations unrestricted access to the Chinese market, home to approximately 1.4 billion consumers.

Competition in Libya is relentless. The country, still fragmented and far from political reunification, remains a fertile ground for the influence of foreign powers such as Italy, the United States, and Russia. While these countries are also working, at least in part, to address Libya’s deep-rooted problems, they are simultaneously seeking to secure access to Tripoli’s vast energy resources.

Libya Herald, Maghrebi.org