Eni and BP to restart exploration in Libya

7 August 2023

Italian oil and gas company Eni and London-based BP have revoked force majeure status on three blocks in Libya, according to a statement published by Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC).

The blocks known as A and B are located onshore in the Ghadames Basin, while the block known as C is located offshore.

Eni is the operator and has a 42.5 per cent stake in the three blocks. BP has a 42.5 per cent stake in the blocks and the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) holds a 15 per cent stake.

Force majeure was declared at the blocks in 2014 and was revoked after the completion of a security risk assessment, according to a separate statement from Eni.

Eni will now be able to resume contract activities in exploration basins, some of which are located close to the Wafa field’s gas facilities.

Eni is Libya’s leading gas producer and domestic market supplier, with an 80 per cent share of national production.

The company has operated in Libya since 1959 and has a large portfolio of assets under exploration, production and development.

Production activities are operated through the joint-venture company Mellitah Oil & Gas (MOG).

Eni holds a 50 per cent stake in MOG and Libya’s state-owned NOC holds the other 50 per cent.

In NOC’s statement, it also said that the state-owned Algerian oil and gas company Sonatrach had also lifted force majeure and would resume “exploration and fulfilment of contractual obligations in blocks 065 and 96/95 in the Ghadames Basin”.

NOC said the latest notifications from foreign oil companies came after an NOC invitation to global oil and gas companies that have signed exploration, sharing and production agreements in Libya to lift their declared force majeure.

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Wil Crisp
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