BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.12. Italy’s Eni has been
awarded the offshore exploration licence O1 in Libya, following the
Libyan National Oil Corporation’s competitive 2025 open licensing
round, the company said, Trend reports.


The concession, covering about 29,000 square kilometres in the
offshore extension of the prolific Sirte Oil & Gas Province, was
granted to a consortium led by Eni in partnership with QatarEnergy.
The area offers significant exploration potential, including large
zones without 3D seismic coverage that could host additional
hydrocarbon accumulations, as well as various hydrocarbon
indications.


Under the agreement, Eni will operate the concession, with the
consortium holding 100% of the stake during exploration and
development phases. The partners plan to conduct 2D and 3D seismic
surveys and drilling activities in the initial five‑year
exploration period. The licence agreement is expected to be
formally signed in Tripoli before the end of February, in the
presence of representatives from Libya’s NOC and the partners.


Eni has been active in Libya since 1959 and is currently the
country’s leading international energy operator. In 2025, the
group’s equity hydrocarbon production in Libya was around 162,000
barrels of oil equivalent per day, reflecting its deep integration
in the country’s upstream sector.







The company operates a broad portfolio of assets across
exploration, production and development, often in joint ventures
with the NOC. In April 2023, Eni signed an agreement with the NOC
to develop the “Structures A&E” offshore gas project, with
production expected to start in 2026 and reach about 750 million
cubic feet per day, underscoring its long‑term gas strategy in
Libya.


Eni is also recognized as the largest gas producer in Libya,
contributing a substantial share of the country’s gas output and
supplying much of the domestic market. Past operations have
included revoking force majeure on several exploration assets to
resume drilling and expand activity after years of disruption due
to political and security challenges.