Libya has begun testing a long-delayed gas pipeline aimed at reducing flaring and improving efficiency across its strained energy network, the state oil firm said.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) confirmed it started trial operations this week on a 130-kilometre, 42-inch pipeline designed to capture gas previously burned off during crude oil production.
The infrastructure is expected to recover up to 150 million cubic feet of gas per day, marking a significant step in Libya’s efforts to better utilise its natural resources and curb waste.
Gas flaring — the burning of excess gas during oil extraction — has long been a challenge for Libya due to limited transport and processing capacity.
Reviving a stalled project
The pipeline links the Intisar A/103 gas field to the Brega distribution network, a key hub in the country’s eastern energy system.
The project had been stalled for more than 16 years before recently reaching completion, underscoring the difficulties Libya has faced in maintaining and expanding its energy infrastructure amid years of conflict and instability.
Final commissioning work is being carried out by engineers from Sirte Oil Company and Zueitina Oil Company.
Once operational, the pipeline is expected not only to reduce flaring but also to ease technical bottlenecks that have constrained production at several oil and gas fields.
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Strained gas network
Libya’s gas sector plays a critical role in its domestic energy supply, particularly for electricity generation.
According to industry estimates, around 85 percent of the country’s gas output is used locally, mainly to fuel power plants, leaving limited volumes available for export.
This heavy reliance has placed increasing strain on infrastructure, much of which is ageing or operating below optimal capacity.
Brega, where the new pipeline connects, is one of Libya’s main gas hubs, alongside Mellitah in the west. The eastern hub is central to the Sirte basin network, supplying fuel to power stations, refineries and coastal facilities.
The system also links into the Greenstream pipeline, a roughly 510-kilometre offshore route connecting Mellitah to Italy and serving as Libya’s primary gas export channel to Europe.
Push to unlock gas potential
The pipeline project is part of a broader push by Libyan authorities to optimise gas utilisation and support the development of the country’s energy sector.
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Efforts to reduce flaring are particularly important as Libya seeks to increase efficiency and meet both domestic demand and export commitments.
Recent gas discoveries have added urgency to these efforts. Algeria’s Sonatrach and Italy’s Eni both announced new finds earlier this month in Libya, including in the Ghadames Basin and offshore areas.
These discoveries could boost future production, but they also highlight the need for improved infrastructure to process and transport additional volumes.
Incremental upgrades underway
In parallel, the NOC has launched smaller projects aimed at strengthening the domestic gas network.
These include the first phase of the Farigh-Brega pipeline, a roughly 30-kilometre link intended to improve supply reliability and reduce pressure constraints in the system.
While modest in scale, such upgrades are seen as essential to stabilising Libya’s energy sector, which continues to face operational disruptions and infrastructure gaps.
The successful commissioning of the new pipeline would mark a rare example of long-delayed energy infrastructure being brought online in Libya, offering potential gains in efficiency, reduced environmental impact and improved energy security.
As the country looks to rebuild and expand its oil and gas industry, projects like this are expected to play a key role in unlocking production and supporting economic recovery.
