La company she has arrived. Actually two: an economic one and it concerns the gas, other policy and concerns immigration.
Today Eni, at the end of a process that lasted weeks, signed an agreement that has all the trappings of being one that will go down in history. Across the table: the Libyan state company Night. The object: the gas production in that country. On the plate: 8 billion dollars having a significant impact on the industry and supply chain, making a significant contribution to the Libyan economy.
“Today's agreement will make it possible to carry out important investments in the energy sector in Libya, contributing to the development and job creation in the country, e strengthening Eni's position like first operator in Libia” said the CEO of Eni Claudio Descalzi.
The Italian Prime Minister was also present at the signing, Giorgia Meloni and the Prime Minister of the Government of Libyan National Unity, Abdul Hamid Al-Dbeibah, in addition to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and that of the Intern Matthew Crying himself
The details of the gas production agreement
The understanding will start it development of strategic project, the first major project to be developed in the country since the beginning of 2000, aimed at increasing the gas production to supply on the one hand the same Libyan internal market, on the other export to Italy and also in Europe. In Libya, "The energy sector has not seen an investment of this magnitude for more than a quarter of a century," he said president of the NOC, Farhat Bengdara.
The agreement concerns in particular two gas fields, called respectively “Structure A” and “Structure E”, located in the contractual area D, al off Libya, about 140 kilometers northwest of Tripoli.
The two fields which, Bengdara pointed out, have estimated reserves for 6 trillion cubic feet they will start to produce gas in 2026 and a pace of will be achieved 750 million cubic feet of standard gas per dayfor an estimated period of 25 years.
Production will be ensured through two main platforms connected to the existing treatment plants at the complex Mellitah. The project also includes the construction of a capture and storage facility dell'carbon dioxide (CCS) in Mellitah, which will allow a significant reduction of the overall carbon footprint, in line with Eni's decarbonisation strategy.
Meloni: the agreement between ENI and Noc is a historic step
“The signing of the agreement between Eni and Noc is a historical passage and will relaunch a series of initiatives to diversify the energy sources, to work on sustainability, to guarantee energy to the Libyans and greater flows to EuropeMeloni said. The agreement, he added, is part of the strategy of making Italy "an energy supply hub for the whole of Europe" and for this reason Libya is "a fundamental partner and knows that it can count on Italy in the process of political stabilization, for the support for the economy, for the investments in infrastructure. A 360-degree cooperation between two nations that have always been friends".
The other page of the agreement: immigration flows and the growth of Libya
“The contrast to the flows of irregular immigration for us it remains a central dossier”, the premier said again. “Despite efforts, the numbers of irregular migrations from Libya to Italy are still high. Irregular entries into Italy, you added, are over half of people who come from Libya: “they have to step up efforts in the field of fight against smuggling and trafficking in human beings, ensuring humane treatment of the persons concerned”. “On this important day, we adopted an agreement signed by our respective foreign ministers with the aim of enhancing capabilities and cooperation with the Libyan authority in relation to the Coast Guard“Meloni said. “Italy can and wants to play a important role also in the ability to help African countries grow and become richer: a cooperation that does not want to be predatory, that wants to leave something in the nations", were the first words spoken by the Prime Minister as soon as she landed this morning in Tripoli
Antonio Tajani: "Signed a memorandum for the delivery of 5 patrol boats"
"Today in Tripoli, in the presence of President Giorgia Meloni, I signed a memorandum of understanding between the Italian and Libyan governments for the delivery of five EU-financed patrol boats". Foreign Minister Antonio writes it on twitter Tajani, assuring that in this way "we strengthen cooperation with Libya, also to counter the flows of irregular immigration".
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah: "We appreciate Italy's diplomatic efforts for stability"
Relations between Libya and Italy are marked by “a strong friendship” e today “we expressed our appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of Italy within the EU and for the extensive contacts it maintains with Libya's neighboring countries as well as with the international stakeholders to support stability and regional consensus on Libya for the stabilization of our country". This was stated by the prime minister of the Libyan national unity government. According to Dbeibah, the stabilization of Libya "will lead to the conclusion of the transition phase" and this will take place "through a transparent and honest electoral process".
Giorgia Meloni: "The EU should strengthen the tools against illegal flows"
That of the migration “it is not a theme that concerns only Italy and Libya, it is an issue that must concern the European Union as a whole, European cooperation towards North Africa, because the most structural way to address the issue of migration is enable people to grow and thrive in their nations and this is done by helping those nations to grow and prosper,” the prime minister said. “This is one of the topics that he will address next European Council: defense of the external dimension, cooperation with the nations of North Africa, priority to the central Mediterranean route as requested by Italy”.
The mission in Libya adds up to projects in Algeria and Egypt
Meloni's arrival in Tripoli follows the mission of last week in Algiers, always accompanied by the number one Descalzi, and aimed, as in this case, to shore up relations with some of the main gas suppliers in the country. After Russia's decision to reduce the gas taps to Europe, Italy has launched, already under the previous executive, a plan to diversify the sources of supply whose main element is Algeria. Thanks to the agreements signed by Eni and Sonatrach, Algerian flows are set to double from 9 to 18 billion cubic meters per year by 2024.
Piantedosi in recent days after a further mission to Cairo, he announced that from Egypt Italy expects “three billion cubic meters of gas” this year.
Libya is in fifth place in the ranking of African countries with the largest gas reserves. But, even if less than Algerian (through Tunisia), Libyan methane is very close to Sicily: between Mellitah and Gela, the submarine section of the GreenStream gas pipeline is 'only' about 520 km long. Built in 2003-2004 by Eni, which owns it together with Noc, the pipeline's transport capacity to Italy is contractually 'calibrated' at six billion cubic meters a year which, with adjustments, could be increased to eight. There seems to be scope for increasing Libyan production to help free Italy from Russian supplies: two-thirds of Libyan gas is used to run the country's power plants, one-fifth feeds industry and only 15% is exported.
2022 was a historic year for Russian gas imports into our country, which fell to the lowest point since 1990: the share dropped by 61% to 11,2 billion cubic meters from over 29 billion in 2021.
