Libya upgrades plants to accelerate its methanol and urea production

A state-owned Libyan Fertilizer Company (LIFECO) has restarted its second urea plant after being offline for 16 months. The restart was made possible by the installation of a high-pressure reactor, the relining of a high-pressure washing device, and boiler repairs, enabling the plant to reach 80% of its maximum capacity of 1,750 tons of urea per day. LIFECO’s modernization also includes a new Type-1A ship loader from Bruks Siwertell, equipped with advanced digital technology for efficient urea handling.

Simultaneously, a subsidiary of the National Oil Company (NOC), the Sirte Oil Company, has completed an impressive overhaul at its First Methanol Plant. The facility’s 540 thermal synthesizer pipes were replaced within just 20 days—a process that typically takes over 60 days. These enhancements are poised to boost the plant’s methanol production to 1,000 metric tons per day.

The heart of this industrial activity is a major port and industrial zone, Marsa El-Brega, managed by Sirte Oil Company. It houses the First Methanol Plant and LIFECO’s operations, including two urea plants and two ammonia plants. The ongoing modernization across these facilities is geared towards enhancing efficiency, boosting production capacities, and potentially developing new gas-based production units.

These developments are part of Libya’s broader strategy to leverage its substantial natural gas reserves, estimated at 53 trillion cubic feet, by developing petrochemical products such as methanol, ammonia, and urea.