Italian energy major Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) have officially commenced production from the long-awaited Sabratha Compression Project, marking a significant milestone in Libya’s efforts to strengthen natural gas production, enhance energy security and reinforce its role as a key supplier to European markets.
The project, developed through Mellitah Oil & Gas, the joint venture between Eni and the NOC, is designed to sustain and increase gas output from the offshore Bahr Essalam field, one of Libya’s largest natural gas assets located approximately 100 kilometres off the country’s Mediterranean coast.
The commissioning of the facility comes at a crucial time for Libya as it seeks to maximise production from mature offshore fields while meeting rising domestic energy demand and maintaining gas exports to Europe. The project is expected to play an important role in offsetting the natural decline in reservoir pressure that typically affects ageing gas fields, ensuring more stable production over the coming years.
At the heart of the development is a newly installed offshore gas compression module weighing about 1,600 tonnes. The facility is equipped with advanced compression systems capable of processing around 440 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day. Once fully operational, the project is expected to contribute an additional 800 million cubic metres of gas annually.
The increased production will primarily supply Libya’s domestic electricity sector, which has faced recurring fuel shortages and power supply challenges in recent years. Surplus volumes will also support exports to Italy through the GreenStream pipeline, a critical energy corridor linking Libya’s western coast to southern Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.
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The launch underscores the long-standing energy partnership between Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation, which has operated jointly in the country for decades. Despite periods of political instability and security concerns, Eni has remained one of Libya’s largest international energy investors, continuing to expand its upstream operations while supporting infrastructure development.
The Sabratha Compression Project also aligns with Libya’s broader objective of increasing hydrocarbon production and attracting greater foreign investment into its energy sector. Authorities have repeatedly identified natural gas as a strategic resource capable of generating additional export revenue while supporting domestic industrial growth and electricity generation.
For Europe, the project carries added significance as countries continue efforts to diversify energy supplies and strengthen regional energy security. Libya remains an important supplier of natural gas to Italy, with the GreenStream pipeline serving as one of the few direct gas connections between North Africa and Southern Europe.
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Industry analysts believe the additional production capacity will help improve the reliability of gas supplies while extending the productive life of the Bahr Essalam field. Compression technology enables operators to maintain production levels by increasing the pressure needed to transport gas from declining reservoirs, reducing the impact of natural depletion without requiring entirely new field developments.
The successful completion of the project also demonstrates continued investment in Libya’s offshore energy infrastructure despite operational challenges that have affected the country’s oil and gas industry over the past decade. Modernising existing facilities is increasingly viewed as a cost-effective strategy for boosting output while limiting environmental and operational risks associated with new offshore developments.
The project forms part of Eni’s broader strategy to expand natural gas production across Africa while supporting lower-carbon energy solutions. Natural gas is expected to remain a central component of the company’s transition strategy as global demand continues to rise for cleaner-burning fuels capable of replacing higher-emission energy sources.
For Libya, increased gas production offers multiple economic benefits beyond export earnings. Higher domestic supply could reduce reliance on liquid fuels for electricity generation, improve power reliability and provide greater support for industrial development, helping diversify the country’s economy beyond crude oil exports.
The launch of the Sabratha Compression Project represents another important step in Libya’s efforts to strengthen its position in the regional energy market. As production ramps up in the coming months, the project is expected to contribute meaningfully to both domestic energy stability and Europe’s evolving gas supply landscape, reinforcing the strategic partnership between Libya and Italy while supporting long-term investment in the country’s energy sector.
