Libya Slashes Gas Flaring by Over 100 Million Cubic Feet Daily Through Strategic Infrastructure Overhaul
Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) has achieved a dramatic reduction in gas flaring, cutting emissions by more than 100 million cubic feet per day through the implementation of five strategic infrastructure projects across its operations.
The announcement, made yesterday, represents a significant environmental and economic milestone for the North African nation as it works to align with global sustainability standards and maximize the utilization of its natural gas resources.
The ambitious program focused primarily on three strategic projects at Sirte Oil Company for Production and Manufacturing of Oil and Gas, alongside initiatives at Al-Sarir Oil Operations Company and Al-Waha Oil Company. The first project addressed a critical inefficiency at the Hatiba field, where condensate was previously stored in a low-pressure pipeline, causing large quantities to convert back to gaseous state and be flared. By pumping condensate into a 16-inch dedicated pipeline, the company eliminated this wasteful process.
The second project achieved perhaps the most substantial impact, diverting and pumping approximately 60 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Lahib and Raqouba fields to the main 30-inch pipeline supplying the coastal gas network. Through technical modifications, this gas is now captured and utilized instead of being flared into the atmosphere.
Additional projects included the rehabilitation of a long-dormant gas separation system at the Lahib field, which now separates approximately 12 million cubic feet per day of high-pressure gas for use in gas lift operations. At Al-Sarir Oil Operations Company, technical modifications to the Gas Processing Plant and commissioning of a gas compressor in Contract Area 91 now enable the processing of approximately 25 million cubic feet per day of gas, while also producing 1,800 barrels of condensate daily. Al-Waha Oil Company’s project successfully reduced gas flaring by approximately 20 million cubic feet per day at the North Al-Dafah field through maintenance and commissioning work on the field’s gas compressor.
The captured gases will be utilized to supply the coastal network that feeds power plants and petrochemical facilities, thereby increasing operational efficiency and maximizing the utilization of national resources. The NOC emphasized that these projects significantly reduce gas emissions from flaring operations, positively impacting environmental protection and mitigating the negative environmental effects of oil activities.
Looking ahead, the NOC announced ambitious targets to reduce gas flaring by approximately 120 million cubic feet per day by 2026, with a goal of achieving a 60 percent reduction in flaring by the end of 2030. These efforts align with Libya’s commitment following its historic decision to join the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2021, demonstrating the country’s readiness to actively participate in international efforts to combat climate change.
Source: libyaherald.com
