The Libyan government has given the go-ahead for Libya to offer a second oil and gas bidding round to foreign oil majors, a top Libyan oil official said.

Abdulla Salem El-Badri, chairman of the Libyan National Oil said that as part of the latest auction, 26 energy contracts will be awarded on October 2 to international oil majors.
He said the projects include 44 oil and gas blocks, based both offshore and onshore.
"We are optimistic and hopeful the latest round will be a big success, El-Badri said.
He said NOC will hold roadshows in Tripoli and London in coming weeks to promote the round.
In January, Libya's first exploration and production-sharing agreement auction since 2000, attracted $150 million in investment and bids from more than 60 companies, including most US oil majors and many smaller independents.
Many foreign oil majors are believed to be holding out for this round when more attractive acreage is expected to be offered.
Certainly international oil firms lured by billions of barrels in oil reserves are eager to get a foothold in the country.
Last week, Royal Dutch/Shell Group (RD, SC) reached a comprehensive agreement for gas exploration and liquefaction with NOC, its first major project in the country in 30 years.
The return to Libya is seen as a way to boost the oil major's position as the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas.
"Its an educated guess as to what kind of reserves we are expecting to find as part of this deal," El-Badri said.
"But we certainly expect to find enough gas to upgrade our existing LNG project."
Under the agreement, Shell will upgrade Libya's Marsa Al-Brega LNG plant at a minimum cost of $105 million.