Eni Meets Libyan PM, Talks up Gas Role
Eni is supplying 20mn m3/d of gas (7.3bn m3/yr) to Libyan power plants, the Italian major said after its CEO Claudio Descalzi met Libya's prime minister Fayez Serraj and state National Oil Company CEO Mustafa Sanalla.
Discussions focused mainly on Eni's ongoing activities in the country and possible future developments, particularly in the gas sector, the July 31 statement said.
Eni's net Libyan production is 350,000 barrels of oil equivalent -- including the 7.3bn m3/yr for domestic use, which Eni said made it the country's largest gas supplier -- and Eni's share of exports via the Green Stream pipe to Italy.
The two CEOs also discussed the second phase of development of the offshore Bahr Essalam field, one of the largest reservoirs in Libya and an important source of gas supply for Green Stream, said Eni. This phase would involve the completion of ten offshore wells, of which nine were already drilled in 2016 and for which Eni was awarded the contract for the supply and installation of structures. First gas is scheduled for 2018.
Eni said March 1 that first gas from Bahr Essalam phase 2 will be in 2H2018 and is expected to yield 70,000 boe/d net to Eni at peak.
Descalzi was one of the first business leaders to meet Serraj a year ago after he was installed as PM of the Libyan Government of National Accord; that June 2016 visit was the first by an Eni boss to Tripoli since the central government split in July 2014.
This week's meeting follows a ceasefire agreed last week between Serraj and a rival Libyan leader in Paris, brokered by the French government.
Mark Smedley