2008-11-23

Tripoli – Melita 34” Gas Pipeline

Natural Gas Usage
SOC natural gas production is dispositioned to three separate and distinct markets: LNG exports, Petrochemical exports, and domestic gas demand via a sales pipeline.

A natural gas shortage in the near future is unavoidable because total demand is projected to grow faster than supply. 

Project Basis
The basis of the project is the availability of 200 MMSCFD of natural gas from Agip Gas BV Melita facility which is available to the Tripoli domestic market thus allowing more flexibility to the existing coastal pipeline network.

This will create in the region of 73 job opportunities for technicians and operators.

This gas is to replace currently used fuel (diesel) which would have an overall benefit to the country by increasing foreign revenue through additional exports of this substituted fuel.
Project Scope
This expansion pipeline will connect the West Libyan Gas Development Project in Melita from the Eni Gas Melita facility, which will have available 200 MMSCFD of natural gas for the domestic market (Zawia and Tripoli power stations), to the Libyan coastal pipeline system all operated by Sirte Oil Company.

This project consists of extending the coastal pipeline from Tripoli to Melita with a branch line to the Zawia power plant.

To make this extended pipeline network operational, a new compressor station will be installed in Melita.
Future Expansion
This project and its utilities are designed for 250 MMSCFD of feed gas and has flexibility for future expansion to handle 400 MMSCFD. To handle this increased capacity, another turbo-compressor package must be added. The compressor station then will be operated on a two plus one stand by.