Libya

In 2024, Libya was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy of Libya. Mineral commodities produced in Libya included cement, gold (artisanal), gypsum, iron and steel products, lime, nitrogen (ammonia), salt, sulfur, and urea. The principal legislation for the mineral sector in Libya is provided by the Mines and Quarries Law No. 2 of 1971 and the Mining Law of 2012 that provides a legal framework for regulating mining activities. Decree No. 944 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya regulates foreign mining activities and investment. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources regulates the mineral sector and issues mining and quarrying permits. Mineral commodities were primarily produced by the Government and private domestic companies. Libya allows foreign companies to participate in joint ventures with the Government (Facilities table; Law Society of Libya, The, 2022; African Mining Legislation Office, 2024; Euro-Libyan Trade Center Ltd., 2024). 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric…;

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• African Mining Legislation Atlas, 2024, Libya—Summary: African Mining Legislation Atlas, April 8. (Accessed December 5, 2025, at https://web.archive.org/web/20251205204440/https://www.a-mla.org/en/cou….) 

• Euro-Libyan Trade Center Ltd., 2024, Mining in Libya—Full guide to opportunities and challenges: London, United Kingdom, Euro-Libyan Trade Center Ltd., December 12. (Accessed December 5, 2025, at https://web.archive.org/web/20251205205433/https://euroly.org/mining-in….) 

• Law Society of Libya, The, 2022, Decree No. 944 on the Foreigners’ Participation and Foreign Companies’ Branches and Representative Offices in Libya: Tripoli, Libya, The Law Society of Libya, October 13. (Accessed December 5, 2025, at https://web.archive.org/web/20251205204341/https://lawsociety.ly/en/leg….)