Tunisia and Libya are reviving the development of the Zarat offshore field, located along their maritime border, as well as the exploration of a joint 3,000 sq km offshore block in the Gabès-Tripoli Basin.

Joint Oil, the joint venture responsible for the shared oil zone, is expected to launch a new international bidding round on September 7, 2026. The tender will cover both exploration of the new offshore block and the development of the Zarat field. Bids must be submitted by January 8, 2027, with an award expected by the end of April.

Discovered in 1992 by Marathon Oil, Zarat has nevertheless remained commercially undeveloped for more than three decades. The area benefits from a substantial seismic database, including around 6,500 km of 2D seismic data and 1,900 sq km of 3D seismic data.

A long-term project ?

Reserves are currently estimated at around 147 million barrels of oil equivalent, giving the project significant potential for both countries. Broader estimates also point to substantial oil and gas resources in the area, although these figures should be distinguished from reserves that are actually recoverable and commercially viable.

For Tunisia, the project is particularly significant given the country’s high energy dependence. Domestic hydrocarbon production remains limited, forcing Tunisia to import a substantial share of its energy needs. Bringing Zarat into production could therefore help reduce this dependence in the medium term.

The project also benefits from its proximity to existing infrastructure, particularly the ports of Sfax and Zarzis, as well as several producing fields in both Tunisia and Libya.

However, the timeline remains lengthy. Following the award of the project, several years will likely be needed to finance the facilities, carry out offshore development work and ultimately bring the field into production.

After more than three decades of delays, the real challenge for Tunis and Tripoli will therefore be to turn Zarat’s identified resources into a profitable, commercially viable producing project. The attractiveness of the contractual framework and the ability to bring in international partners will be crucial.