Winning bidders include Chevron, Eni, Qatar Energy and Aiteo.

Libya allocates new oil and gas exploration rights to foreign companies, aiming to reform the industry years of civil unrest.

On Wednesday, the country’s national oil company (NOC) announced the results of the first licensing round since 2007. Winners include U.S. oil giant Chevron and Nigeria’s Aiteo, Africa’s largest private energy company.

The other winning bidders were consortiums: Spain’s Repsol with BP, Eni North Africa with Qatar Energy, Repsol with Hungary’s Mol Group and Turkish Petroleum.

The license issuance marks renewed interest in Libya’s oil industry, which foreign investors have long been wary of since conflict erupted in the country after the 2011 ouster of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. But experts say the response has been smaller than expected.

Hamish Kinnear, an analyst at British risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, told AFP: “Ongoing uncertainty over political dysfunction in Libya and insecurity in the areas surrounding the offered blocks may have been factors that contributed to the lackluster response.”

Libya remains politically divided between rival governments in the east and west, with frequent disputes over the central bank and oil revenues Disrupting production at major oil fields.

“Return of Trust”

Last month, a $20 billion deal was struck with France’s Total Energies and ConocoPhillips to boost oil production over 25 years. In this licensing round, 5 out of 20 blocks were awarded.

Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who announced the deal, said the goal was to increase oil production by 850,000 barrels per day over the period. Libya’s current output is approximately 1.4 million barrels per day.

The round features a new, more investor-friendly contract model that replaces strict terms that previously hindered investment.

National Olympic Committee president Masoud Suleiman said a committee would be formed to further “improve the terms of the bidding system” and negotiate with candidates for the award of unallocated blocks.

“After a long period of pause and challenges, one of the country’s most important industries has restored trust and resumed institutional work,” he said in a speech at a ceremony announcing the bid.

He added: “They are part of a wider national path to prosperity, growth and a return to normalcy.”