Libya is rapidly becoming a crucial player in China’s global economic strategy, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With a sharp focus on the eastern region of Libya, under the control of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, China is positioning itself to establish a powerful foothold in North Africa.
Through major investments in ports, energy, railways, telecommunications, and logistics, Beijing is working to turn Libya’s eastern coast into a vital trade and energy hub, linking Africa, Europe, and Asia.
At the core of China’s ambitions is the port city of Tobruk, located less than 400 kilometers from southern Europe. This city, with its deep-water port, holds immense strategic value. Unlike many congested European ports, Tobruk can accommodate large container vessels and tankers, making it a natural gateway for shipping traffic between Africa and Europe.
China’s proposed projects in Tobruk are comprehensive and far-reaching. Central to the plans is a $10 billion oil refinery capable of processing up to 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Refined products from this facility would be exported directly to Europe, offering an alternative energy supply at a time when the continent is seeking to diversify away from Russian resources.
But China’s vision for Tobruk extends beyond oil refining. Plans include the creation of a massive logistics hub incorporating storage facilities, transshipment terminals, and supply depots, along with an expanded and modernized port. The development would also include an upgraded airport at Al-Adem, which would serve as a combined civilian and military logistics center, integrating air, sea, and land transportation systems. This project would place Libya at the heart of China’s Mediterranean logistics strategy.
China’s influence is also spreading inland. A proposed railway line, spearheaded by China Railway International Group (CRIG) and supported by the BFI Management Consortium alongside Siemens and Arup, would link Benghazi and Tobruk to Egypt’s high-speed rail system. This would create a seamless trade corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, with plans to eventually extend into Chad and Sudan.
These initiatives are being supported by the newly established Libyan Bank for Energy and Mining in eastern Libya, which aims to attract Chinese capital and facilitate large-scale infrastructure projects. Early groundwork has already been laid by Chinese firms, including Kerui Petroleum, which has started technical assessments for the Tobruk refinery.
High-level Libyan delegations, including representatives from the Fund for the Development and Reconstruction of Libya, have visited China for talks with leading Chinese companies such as Huawei and China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC). Huawei has reportedly begun testing a new telecommunications network in eastern Libya, further deepening China’s presence in the region.
Strategically, this partnership is highly significant. By developing ports, railways, and industrial projects in eastern Libya, China is creating a transcontinental logistics corridor that could reshape regional trade dynamics.
Tobruk’s development also has geopolitical implications, as it would grant China greater influence over European energy supplies and Mediterranean trade routes.
Libya, under Haftar’s leadership in the east, is positioned as a key node in this emerging trade network. For Libya, these projects offer an opportunity for economic revitalization, infrastructure upgrades, and job creation. For China, Libya serves as a bridge between Africa and Europe, a gateway for trade, resources, and geopolitical influence.
