July 14 (Bloomberg) -- BP Plc plans to start drilling off Libya's coast in the next few weeks as its links with the North African country come under scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers.

The London-based company has a rig in place to start a well in the Gulf of Sirt after completing a seismic survey last year. BP also plans to drill onshore in the 13,000 square kilometer Ghadames basin by the end of the year, Robert Wine, a spokesman for BP, said today.