A Spokesman for the Libyan Ministry of Oil and Gas, Ahmed Gomaa said that “Libya does not need to build a new gas pipeline to Greece and Egypt.” He pointed to the Greenstream pipeline, adding that it “effectively connects western Libya with the Italian island of Sicily, and delivers Libyan gas exports to the European Union.”
Gomaa explained that the ministry “does not see economic feasibility for this project,” and that “it is too early to talk about such projects, especially since current gas production in Libya is not enough to meet the country’s energy needs, let alone exports.”
“Since its establishment in the 1970’s, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) has been a technical arm of the ministry. All agreements and memorandums of understanding with foreign countries and internal projects are done through the ministry. What Farhat Bengdara did was just media statements,” in reference to the NOC Chairman. He added that “Bengdara himself confirmed at the end of his statements that the final decision for this project remains in the hands of the Ministry of Oil and Gas.”
The Spokesman explained that the MoU signed with Turkey, “did not stipulate a pipeline between the two countries.”
He added that “it is a general agreement to enhance cooperation in the field of energy on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefits.” He said that such cooperation would “strengthen relations between the two countries, and develop existing relations in the field of hydrocarbons.”
Notably, Bengdara told CNBC that Libya is studying a project that could connect gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean to Greece, passing through Egypt.
Bengdara also announced that Eni and BP would be investing huge amounts of money in the development of offshore and onshore natural gas fields.
In theory, Libya can export up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Italy through the Greenstream. This is the gas pipeline that connects Sicily to Eni’s gas fields in southwestern Libya. However, just 3.23 billion cubic meters arrived, compared to the 4.46 billion of the previous year.