MANAGEMENT OF THE LIBYAN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY: THE PERFORMANCE AND ADOPTION ASSESSMENTS 1 A.Mohamed, 2 M. Ahmad, 3 A. Hamouda, 4 S. Sapuan 1 Numerical Modeling Laboratory, Institute of advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43300, serdang, selangor, Malaysia. Tel:60126789448, Fax:60387384113, mabruk@hotmail.com 2 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43300, serdang, selangor, Malaysia. Tel : 603-86567122, mmegat@eng.upm.edu.my 3 Mechanical and Industry System Engineering, College of Engineering Qatar University, P. O. Box 2713 Doha, Qatar. Tel:+974852099, Fax:+974852110, hamouda@qu.edu.qa 4 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43300,serdang, selangor, Malaysia. Tel:603-8946 6318,sapuan@eng.upm.edu.my ABSTRACT Acquiring the technology and knowledge became an important part of any organization. The petroleum industry requires technology and knowledge development. This call for embarking on large and or complex infrastructure projects in the petroleum industry. Nevertheless, most of developing oil producing countries lacks the managerial capability and technical management to run such enormous infrastructure projects. In Libya, like most oil producing countries, attempts began to develop the petroleum industry through several modes of technology transfer. The petroleum industry is very slow to accept and adopt technology and change. In this paper, we will analyze and review many factors that influence the technology transfer process in the petroleum industry in Libya. Also, analyze the problems experienced by the petroleum industry management in the field of knowledge and technology Management. Moreover, discusses and analyze the development and performance of technology currently adopted and the anticipated future problems. We will discuss why the Libyan oil companies continuing to rely on foreign firms for technology and knowledge transfer. The paper proposes a conceptual technology transfer model for the Libyan oil industries with performance evaluation. The results are developed from a questioner conducted recently. The main goal of the model is to highlight the importance of key factors affecting the transfer process, the importance of direct and indirect – interrelationship between those factors to determine the effect of government role, culture and transfer mode in the overall technology transfer management process in the Libyan petroleum industry. Keywords: technology transfer, petroleum industry, knowledge management INTRODUCTION Over the last 40 years, the fast growing petroleum producing countries has experienced rapid petroleum industrialization and economic growth. Much of this development can be attributed to technology transfer (TT). The petroleum industry of Libya is no exception, experiencing unprecedented growth through the formation of large petroleum complexes and petroleum related infrastructure programs that are largely partnered with foreign companies. Such programs have