Over the past decade, China has steadily increased its engagement across North Africa, with Libya emerging as a centerpiece of Beijing's expanding geopolitical and economic ambitions. As part of its global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is accelerating multi-sectoral investments in energy, infrastructure, and logistics in eastern Libya. These developments reflect a broader effort by China to reshape trade routes, supply chains, and political alignments in the Mediterranean and sub-Saharan Africa. Libya’s east, under the control of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), has become a focal point for negotiations that could transform the region into a critical hub for Sino-African and Sino-European trade.
Strategic Location and Investment Potential
Tobruk, a port city on Libya’s eastern coast, is at the center of Chinese plans. Its strategic location—less than 400 kilometers from Crete and southern Europe—offers a rare combination of geographic proximity and maritime potential. Historically, Tobruk has served as a strategic military and trading post since the Roman era, and later as the site of a pivotal World War II battle. Now, the city is poised to regain international importance, this time as a commercial and energy transit node.
Unlike many southern European ports, such as Genoa, Piraeus, and Barcelona, which lack the draft depth to accommodate ultra-large container vessels, Tobruk’s natural deep-water port positions it as a gateway to Europe. According to our sources inside Libya, Chinese strategists have identified Tobruk as a linchpin for addressing Europe’s port capacity constraints. A multi-phase Chinese investment plan envisions Tobruk as a logistics megahub. At its core is a proposed $10 billion oil refinery capable of processing 500,000 barrels per day. The refined products would be exported to European markets, securing an alternative and stable energy source for the continent. If Haftar's approval is secured, Chinese stakeholders are prepared to invest even more extensively, potentially surpassing $50 billion in total commitments across Libya in the near- to medium-term.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member