By Sami Zaptia.
London, 3 August 2021:
Global energy multinational Royal-Dutch Shell is considering the resumption of its operations in Libya. The revelation was made yesterday after Shell had held a meeting with National Oil Corporation (NOC) chairman Mustafa Sanalla during their visit to Tripoli.
As reported by Libya Herald at the time, Shell had stopped its operations in Libya in 2012, ceasing exploration activities and abandoning drilled wells.
At the time, it had cited harsh (EPSA IV) contracts and insecurity as major factors in the decision. Shell had had disappointing results from exploration of their Libyan concessions and considered further exploration to be economically unsound.
The NOC reported that the meeting discussed the possibility of Shell contributing to the development of fields in Libya, as well as increasing its activity in marketing and developing refineries.
NOC chairman Sanalla welcomed the company’s delegation to Tripoli, stressing the depth of the relationship between the NOC and Shell as one of the largest international companies in the field of exploration and production.
He also welcomed the possibility of cooperation in the development of some exploratory plots, exploration of some other pieces, contribution to investment and development of the oil and gas industry in Libya, transfer of expertise, development of human resources, refinery development and renewable energy projects, and assistance in projects to increase the storage capacity of oil reservoirs and other investment projects, in addition to implementing spatial development programmes.
Sanalla explained that the situation has become better now in Libya with the presence of a Government of National Unity and that the conditions are ripe for the company’s resumption of activity, especially since the company has great experience in this field.
Shell officials, the NOC reported, expressed their happiness with this visit and the meeting with the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors in a sign of the resumption of the company’s activity in Libya, stressing that Libya is a promising market and one of the most important countries that the company is looking to open the door to partnership with through the NOC.
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