The long-delayed 180mn cfd Faregh Phase-2 gas project is finally on the verge of start-up according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC). In a 24 October statement NOC said Waha Oil Company had begun operational tests for the project which would gradually bring the Sirte basin field’s capacity to 250mn cfd by November. Faregh will also produce 15,000 b/d of condensate.
Faregh Phase-2 was originally due to come online a decade ago (MEES, 27 July 2009), but the 2011 revolution and following instability prevented NOC from bringing the project to completion. Better late than never. Initial volumes will be piped to the nearby Intisar (103) oil field operated by OMV-led Zueitina to “increase the efficiency of crude oil production,” but the real prize appears to be supplying coastal power plants. Lack of gas supplies and pipeline constraints mean some coastal power plants are forced to run on subsidized fuel oil (MEES, 21 June). (CONTINUED - 854 WORDS)
