Mining by country

Mining in Libya

Mining in Libya: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 0.7% of merchandise exports (2019). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals0.7%of merchandise exports, 2019.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law-1.65above 5% of countries
  • Political stability-1.84above 6% of countries
  • Regulatory quality-1.66above 4% of countries
  • Control of corruption-1.53above 5% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Libya at a glance

State mining company
General Company for Chemical Industries. State-owned producer of salt near Tripoli at Kammash, as named by USGS. Source: USGS
Main mines
Al Qawasim (clay (kaolin)), Gargaresh (graphite), Bi'R Al Ghanam-Yafran (gypsum), Wadi Ash Shatti (iron), Derna (limestone), Homs (limestone), Bengasi, Sardalas (potash) Source: USGS
Signature minerals
gypsum, salt Source: USGS

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Libya

What the ground holds. gypsum Source: USGS

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Africa

South AfricaDR CongoMozambiqueGhanaMadagascarRwandaNigeriaGuineaMoroccoTanzania

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.