Oil company BP has confirmed it will begin drilling off the Libyan coast in the next few weeks.
The deal on oil and gas development was signed in 2007.
A BP spokesperson says drilling the first well in the Gulf of Sirte will begin in the next few weeks, adding the wells can take six months or more to drill.
The confirmation comes at a time when there is concern over BP's environmental and safety record following the explosion at its rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and increasing scrutiny of its acquisition of oil and gas rights off Libya, the BBC reports.
It also follows claims, denied by BP, that it lobbied for Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's release.
