The Russian presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said in an interview with TASS that Russia was ready to join infrastructure development projects in Libya, and not only in the energy sector.
"We will also be ready to join the post-conflict restoration and development of Libya’s vital economic infrastructure by means of the implementation of large-scale joint projects, and not only in the energy sector," Bogdanov said.
He added that Moscow will encourage Russian companies planning to return to the Libyan market when the situation in the country is settled and security conditions are ensured.
"Regrettably, after NATO’s aggression, practically all foreign companies, including Russian, had to wind up their activities and their personnel left the country. Nevertheless, Russian organizations still are interested in returning to the Libyan market," he added.
He indicated that Libyan officials have repeatedly raised the issue of having Russian businesses be back in the country. "Russian-Libyan cooperation has a rich, decades-long experience.
"Before the 2011 developments, many Russian economic operators worked in that country. The biggest projects included Gazprom neft and Tatneft projects for the development of hydrocarbon fields," Bogdanov said.
The Russian company, Tatneft, resumed its work in geological exploration projects in Libya in October 2021, and it drilled an assessment well near the Hamada field in Ghadames basin, southwestern Libya.
