Russians Compete for Libyan Gas Licenses
The Libyan state National Oil Co. will auction off the licenses for the right to develop 12 gas deposits, divided into 41 blocks with a total area of 72,500 sq. km. Thirty-five companies have been admitted to the auction, including Gazprom, LUKOIL and NOVATEK. Libya has the second largest gas deposits in Africa, with 1.47 trillion cu. m.
ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Naftogaz Ukrainy, Gaz de France, Total, Statoil, Sonatrach, Conoco, Shell, Eni, Repsol, Petrobras, Petrocanada, ONGC, Wintershall, BG, OMV and PGNiG are among the Russian companies' competitors. Another 21 companies will be admitted to the auction as investors.
Libya has already held three auctions for licenses to develop oil deposits since the United States lifted its embargo against it in 2004. After the auction for the gas licenses, Libya will be able to build a second liquefied natural gas plant. One of the main conditions of the auction is that the Libya receive a share in the projects. The country now produces 12 billion cu. m. of gas per year, 8 billion cu. m. of which is piped to Italy and 1 billion cu. m. of which is liquefied and delivered to Spain. The remainder is used within the country.
Gazprom confirmed its plans to participate in the auction, but declined to elaborate. It already has a presence in Libya after exchanging a share in the South Russian deposit for oil assets in Libya with the German BASF. LUKOIL press secretary Grigory Volchek said that the company is “very interested” in Libyan projects. LUKOIL opened an office in Tripoli two years ago that has been preparing for the auction the whole time. NOVATEK press secretary Mikhail Lozovoi said it was “too early” to comment in that company's plans.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 06, 2007
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