Transportation in Libya

Railways

Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled. Current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area. There has been little progress, however. Other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion originally set for mid-1994. Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork.

Highways

total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1996 est.)

Waterways

There are no waterways in Libya.

Pipelines

crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km

Ports and harbors

Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah

Merchant marine:

total: 27 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,303 GRT/656,632 DWT
ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll-on/roll-off 4, short-sea passenger 4 (1999 est.)

Airports

142 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 59
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 83
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 19 (1999 est.)

See also : Libya