Tripoli: Zallaf Oil Exploration, Production, and Refining Company has reached an agreement with American firm KBR to sign a contract for managing the South Refinery project next February. The announcement followed a meeting in Tripoli between the Chairman of Zallaf's Board of Directors and a delegation from KBR.

According to Libyan News Agency, the meeting, which included several department heads, focused on the latest developments regarding the procedures to open a KBR branch in Libya. This move is part of the final preparations for signing a contract aimed at providing technical support and project management services for the South Refinery initiative.

The American delegation reported that the registration procedures for establishing the local branch are nearing completion. They anticipate finalizing these procedures, along with obtaining the necessary operating permits, within the next week. These steps are crucial to ensuring that the contract signing proceeds as scheduled.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to finalize the contract at the beginning of February. KBR is recognized globally for its expertise in engineering consulting and managing major strategic projects. Its involvement in the South Refinery project is seen as an important step towards enhancing the prospects of completing the refinery and achieving full operational status.