Libya announces discovery of two gas reserves in offshore waters

Tripoli — Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on Monday 16 March the discovery of two significant gas reserves with an estimated volume of approximately 28.32 billion cubic metres in offshore waters in the north-west of the country.

The company stated that its foreign partner, Eni North Africa, confirmed the gas reserves after completing exploratory drilling in two wells in adjacent offshore geological structures, approximately 16 kilometres south of the Bahr Essalam gas field, one of Libya’s primary natural gas sources.

The NOC added that it is developing an emergency development plan to connect both new wells to the Bahr Essalam offshore platform, with both discoveries expected to contribute approximately 3.68 million cubic metres of gas per day.

According to Eni, the gas produced will be supplied to Libya’s domestic market and exported to Italy.

Oil and gas exports constitute Libya’s primary source of revenue, although the sector has faced various obstacles in recent years owing to domestic conflict and political instability.