Joint Oil, Moyes launch bid round in Libya-Tunisia border

When participating in bid rounds, investors usually seek access to proven petroleum systems, key exploratory leads and significant cross-border energy assets

The Joint Oil Block and the strategic Zarat Discovery in the Gabes-Tripoli Basin that is up for bidding by Joint Oil and Moyes & Co promises these offerings with the high-potential 3,000 sq km opportunity.

Bid round launch and presentation

Joint Oil Exploration, Exploitation and Petroleum Services Company (Joint Oil) and its appointed advisor, Moyes & Co. (Moyes) have announced the Joint Oil Block and Zarat Discovery bid round from 7 September to 31 December 2026 

The bid round opportunity will be presented at the World Energy Summit in London on 29-30 September 2026. The last date for bids submission is 8 January 2027. Winning bidders will be informed by 26 February 2027, with formal awards expected by 30 April 2027.

Spanning an area of 3,000 sq km at water depths of 80-120m, the offshore acreage available for the bid round is located in the prolific Gabes-Tripoli Basin of the central Mediterranean. This can potentially advance cross-border energy cooperation between Tunisia and Libya.

Commercial framework and seismic data assets

The commercial packages that make up the bid offer comes in the form of an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA). With 6,500 km of 2D and 1,900km of 3D seismic data available for the acreage, it unlocks access to new plays, leads, and prospects: 

- Zohra-1 (1976)

- El Amal South 1 (1999)

- Besmah-1 (2002)

- El Amal North 1 (2002)

- Zarat North 1 (2010)

- El Bouri, El Jurf and Bihr El Salam in Libya

- Hasdrubal, Ashtart, Miskar & Didon in Tunisia

The development of the Zarat Discovery — which straddles the Tunisia-Libya border — is a unitised oil and gas resource. This will be governed by a development and production sharing agreement (DPSA), unitisation agreement (UA), unit operating agreement (UOA), and operating services contract (OSC).

Strategic location

The concession is blessed with a highly strategic offshore location that lies close to several major producing fields across the Sabratha-Gabes Basin, including Al Jurf, Bahr Essalam, and Bouri offshore Libya, as well as Ashtart, Didon, and Miskar offshore Tunisia. This positioning enhances the project’s long-term value proposition through access to established regional infrastructure, operational synergies, and export pathways.