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By Sami Zaptia.
London, 11 July 2019:
Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) has approved Zallaf Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Company’s plans to expedite exploration at the Atshan gas field (NC210 and NC151), with a view to supplying natural gas to the Ubari power plant located about 170 kilometres away.
The NOC reported on Tuesday that a feasibility study to further develop the field was presented to the NOC Board at its headquarters by Zallaf’s management committee.
The NOC said that its Board has authorised a series of comprehensive reservoir studies and a development plan to determine existing gas reserves, feasible production rates, and associated development and production costs.
The NOC also reported that its chairman, Mustafa Sanalla, had discussed earlier this month the gas link proposal with Libya’s Tripoli-based Minister of Planning, requesting a budget to fast-track project development to replace crude oil currently used as fuel at the plant.
It reported that Libya’s Presidency Council had recently issued a resolution ratifying NOC supply of the power plant, while the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) has been preparing for the station’s commissioning.
“Supplying natural gas instead of crude oil would increase the efficiency of the Ubari plant and significantly reduce emissions.
The switch to gas would also save at-least 15,000 barrels per day that could be sold internationally – further increasing Libya’s export capacity and contributing to national revenue growth.
We hope the Ministry will approve necessary funding so we are able to progress this strategic project as soon as possible,” Sanalla was quoted as saying.
