Khairi Attia, Deputy Head of the General Oil Workers’ Union, wrote an article:
Ras Lanuf was never just an ordinary oil facility. It has long been one of Libya’s most important industrial and strategic projects, and one of the strongest symbols of an era in which the state sought to build an integrated oil industry that went beyond simply exporting crude oil.
At full operational capacity, the Ras Lanuf refinery was capable of refining around 220,000 barrels per day, alongside petrochemical, ethylene, and polyethylene plants that represented significant industrial and economic value while supporting both the domestic market and exports.
For decades, the complex also served as a workplace for thousands of Libyan engineers, technicians, and workers whose professional and personal memories became deeply tied to this major industrial landmark, where operations continued around the clock across production units, the port, and various industrial facilities.
Despite the wars, shutdowns, damages, and prolonged disputes that affected the complex over recent years, the name Ras Lanuf has remained deeply rooted in the minds of oil sector workers as a major national project rather than merely a production facility.
Today, with discussions surrounding the resolution of disputes and the restoration of full ownership of the complex, the real hope lies in restarting this landmark facility and returning it to production. The success of Ras Lanuf should not be measured solely by ownership of the assets, but by restoring life to them and transforming them into genuine economic value that serves Libya and the future of its generations.
From our position within the General Oil Workers’ Union, we extend our appreciation to all workers who protected this facility under the most difficult circumstances. We also commend the efforts of the National Oil Corporation and everyone who contributed to resolving this file and completing the process of restoring this national landmark.
