After years of being outside of the main global push to become a major natural gas producer, Libya seems to target a reversal of all. Libyan officials have stated that Libya targets to double its current natural gas production within the next five years. Main target also is to be able to boost its fledgling natural gas exports. Sources are indicating that Libya has set its eye on a very aggressive expansion, trying to increase gas production to 41 billion cubic meters annually, which will meet the growing local demand and enhance its export capabilities. In statements made by Khalifa Rajab Abdel-Sadiq, NOC official, the latter said that the developments in the gas fields align with Libya’s goal to enhance gas production. At present, Libya’s main exports are via an existing natural gas pipeline to Itay, transporting 3 billion cubic meters. NOC is now targeting its full capacity of slightly over 10 billion cubic meters annually of exports within the next three to five years. The volume of gas exports in the following years will depend on local demand and the utilization of renewable energy sources.

At present, according to Abdel-Sadiq Libya produces around 20.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The new aggressive targets of NOC however will depend also on the cooperation and investments by European multinational energy companies such as Eni, Repsol, and Total Energy. The collaboration with these partners aims to maximize gas exports and fill pipelines.

As the full scope of exports will be entering Italian markets first, cooperation from that side is needed. As Europe and Italy are still in dire need of gas import volumes, options are available. Italian sources have indicated that the Italian gas line landing in Gela, Sicily, has been underutilized. Italian consultants have reiterated that the current usage of the gas line, which is around 3 billion cubic meters annually, can easily be increased to 15 billion cubic meters. At the same time Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) reported that technical teams of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) converted oil well DD21-80 in the Misla oil field into a producing well of 1,510 barrels per day. The well until now has been considered a non-producing well for 22 years.