Turkey in talks to secure Libyan oil and gas exploration rights
(Bloomberg) - Turkey is in talks over oil and gas exploration in Libya, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan鈥檚 administration seeks business opportunities in the conflict-ridden North African country.
Turkey and Libya鈥檚 United Nations-recognized government, which controls the capital Tripoli and other parts of the west, are discussing onshore and offshore energy blocks, according to a Turkish energy official, who asked not to be identified because the information isn鈥檛 public.
Turkish officials also held talks with Libya鈥檚 National Oil Corp. about power generation and pipeline operations, the person said. The official did not specify whether the NOC was included in negotiations about energy exploration.
The NOC, also based in Tripoli, didn鈥檛 immediately respond to a request for comment.
An energy deal would strengthen Turkey鈥檚 ties with the Government of National Accord, which fended off a campaign by eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar to capture Tripoli and wrest full control of the OPEC member earlier this year. Ankara sent troops and military advisers to Libya in January, which proved crucial in turning the tide against Haftar.
Libya, home to Africa鈥檚 largest crude oil reserves, has been wracked by war and lawlessness since a 2011 revolt that toppled former dictator Muammar al-Qaddafi. The country is divided between the GNA and Haftar鈥檚 Libyan National Army, which is backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
The war has devastated Libya鈥檚 oil industry. It pumped just 100,000 barrels of crude a day in July, a fraction of the 1.6 million barrels of daily output a decade ago.
Western Libya is home to the country鈥檚 biggest oil field, Sharara.
Turkey has deep historical ties to Libya, which the Turks ruled as part of the former Ottoman Empire until 1912.
The GNA said its prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, visited Turkey earlier this month to discuss economic and security cooperation with Erdogan.
The two sides discussed 鈥渢he return of Turkish companies to complete halted infrastructure projects in Libya and contributing to new projects,鈥 according to a GNA statement on Sept. 6.