102 / 232
102 |
Ten Year Network Development Plan 2015
0
2,000
1,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
bcm
Nigeria
Algeria
Egypt
Libya
Other Africa
Figure 5.43:
Natural gas proved reserves in Africa end 2013 (Source BP Statistical Review 2014)
5.3.2.4 Libya
Libya is currently the smallest pipeline gas supplier of the EU. It is providing an
average daily delivery of 165GWh/d representing 60 TWh (6 bcm) in 2013. It is
expected to remain at this place along the time horizon of this report.
Reserves
With its 1,500 bcm
1)
(16,500 TWh) of proven natural gas reserves Libya ranks
among the African countries with the largest gas reserves of the continent. Prior to
the civil turmoil since 2011, new discoveries and investments in natural gas
exploration had been expected to raise Libya’s proved reserves but they have not
occurred.
Production
Most of the country’s production is coming from the onshore Wafa field as well as
from the offshore Bahr Essalam field. Production grew substantially from 5bcm
(59 TWh) in 2003 to nearly 17bcm (187TWh) in 2010. This is mainly pushed by
exports and the goal to become an important gas supplier in the region. The still on-
going civil turmoil has deeply impacted both production and exports. Between 2010
and 2011 production dropped by more than 50% down to around 8bcm (88TWh).
According to BP Statistical Review 2013, natural gas production has since recov-
ered to approximately 12 bcma (132 TWh/y). Nevertheless exports in 2012 were
only around 7bcm (72TWh) representing 8% of total exports from Africa.
Exports
Piped exports are transported through the Green Stream pipeline which came online
in 2004. This 520km offshore pipeline connects Libya to Italy through Sicily. This
infrastructure has a total capacity of around 12bcma. More than 90% of the overall
exports are delivered by this pipeline the rest being exported as LNG.
After the United States and Algeria, Libya was the third country in the world which
began exporting liquefied natural gas in 1971. Processed in Masra El-Brega LNG
plant, LNG was mostly sent to Spain. The plant was damaged in 2011 and since that
time Libya has not exported any LNG.
Figure 5.46 shows Libyan exports to Italy and their complete shutdown from March
to mid-October 2011 due to the civil turmoil. Exports partially recovered in 2012
although still considerably lower than 2010 levels.
1) Country overview Libya, October 2013, EIA