Eni and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), through their joint venture Mellitah Oil & Gas, have started hydrocarbon production enabled by the Sabratha Compression Project, a key offshore development designed to sustain and increase gas output from the Bahr Essalam field, about 100 kilometers off Libya’s coast.
Why it matters: The project is expected to offset the natural decline of the offshore field while increasing gas supplies for Libya’s domestic power sector and exports to Italy through the GreenStream pipeline, reinforcing the country’s energy infrastructure.
The project: Sabratha Compression includes the installation of a new 1,600-ton compression module on the Sabratha platform, equipped with new compression trains with a total capacity of around 440 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd).
- The new facilities will allow production to continue under lower reservoir pressure, increasing gas output by around 800 million cubic meters per year, in addition to associated condensates.
The big picture: According to Eni, the additional volumes will help support Libya’s electricity generation, strengthen the country’s energy security and sustain exports to Italy via GreenStream. The company said the startup also demonstrates Eni and NOC’s ability to deliver complex offshore projects on schedule despite challenging operating conditions.
What’s next: Eni is also advancing two other strategic projects in Libya: the Bouri Gas Utilization Project, currently in its commissioning phase following the installation of the Bouri Gas Recovery Module, and the Structures A&E Project, aimed at developing two offshore gas fields.
The bottom line: Eni, which has operated in Libya since 1959, remains the country’s largest international energy operator, with equity production of around 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The company currently has three development projects underway in Libya, representing a combined investment of about $10 billion.
