Reuters quoted a senior Turkish official as saying that his country is ready to start a rapid pace of Libyan reconstruction. This comes after top aides to Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan visited the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to discuss means of cooperation in several areas, including energy, construction and banking.
The official told the agency today, Friday, on condition of anonymity, that the Turkish delegation discussed with the Libyan National Accord government the ways through which Turkey can help in exploring and operating energy resources, including cooperation "in every project imaginable" to help in reaching the resources to international markets.
He continued, "Destruction has occurred in many areas of the country, and there is an urgent need for infrastructure ... Turkish companies are in a position to start such actions quickly."
The Turkish delegation - which included the foreign and finance ministers and the head of intelligence - visited the capital, Tripoli, on Wednesday, and met with Al-Wefaq government officials to discuss several files.
Turkish support helped the internationally recognized government of Al-Wefaq turn the war in Libya and thwart the 14-month-old attack by retired Major General Khalifa Haftar's forces to seize Tripoli.
In his remarks, the senior Turkish official told Reuters that the delegation also discussed with Libyan officials the payments due to Turkish companies for previous energy and construction work in Libya.
And before Turkey formally threw its weight behind the Al-Wefaq government last November, Turkish construction companies were already working on projects in Libya. An official in this sector said last January that the contracted Turkish business in Libya amounts to 16 billion dollars, including projects ranging from 400 to 500 million dollars that have not started yet.
Electricity and the banking sector
The Turkish official told Reuters that the Turkish Electricity Company "Karadeniz Power" could use its ships to alleviate the electricity shortage crisis in Libya in light of the war.
Another Turkish source said that Ankara and the Libyan reconciliation government also discussed sending Turkish advisors to Tripoli to help rebuild its banking system.
On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoوlu told CNN Turk that part of the talks with the Libyan side focused on the return of Turkish companies to Libya after the conflict ended.
Ihsanoglu added that Turkey may also expand its military cooperation with the Government of National Accord.