By Sami Zaptia.
London, 9 July 2020:
A delegation from Italy’s ENI, headed by its CEO Claudio Descalzi, met with Libya’s internationally recognized Prime Minister, Faiez Serraj, and the head of Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) in Tripoli yesterday.
In both meetings, resuming Libya’s oil production and exports by ending the political blockade imposed by tribes and forces aligned to Khalifa Hafter as well as new projects were discussed.
The Faiez Serraj government Media Department reported that the meeting discussed ‘‘what was discussed in previous meetings on the implementation by the company (ENI) of a number of projects in the field of electric power, improving the efficiency of the (Libya’s) network and increasing the production capacity of (U.S’s) General Electric Company’s power plants’’.
The NOC, meanwhile, reported that two parties discussed the progress of the development project of the A&E structures which will extend the gas production plateau of the Bahr Essalam field in the coming years and will ensure the supply of gas to the local market.
It said that the NOC and Eni are evaluating the possibility of further developing the Burri oilfield, targeting the undeveloped West and North areas of the field, so as to fully exploit the field’s potential.
It said Eni’s CEO praised the NOC chairman for the continuous commitment of the corporation in providing business continuity and logistics support, as well as the great effort made by Mellitah Oil & Gas Company’s management and employees and all the contractors involved in the activities, despite the current complex and unprecedented scenario.
The NOC statement quoted its chairman Mustafa Sanalla as saying: “We highly appreciate the support from our international partners in these difficult times and in light of the illegal blockade the country is experiencing which is harming our sector. We look forward to the end of the blockade and resuming working with Eni for the benefit of all Libyan people.”
It reported that Descalzi reaffirmed Eni’s full commitment to its operational activities and projects in Libya in addition to its support for NOC initiatives combatting Covid-19. These include NOC’s provision of protective medical equipment, diagnosis and critical treatment equipment – all of which are essential in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic – as part of NOC ‘s sustainable development projects.
Eni’s CEO, the report continued, appreciated NOC’s enormous efforts in trying to resolve the blockade that has halted production from Libyan onshore oilfields including fields in which Eni has operations (El Feel and Abu Attifel). Apart from seriously reducing Libyan revenues, the stoppage of oil production may also cause the deterioration of existing oil facilities, the NOC reported.
