The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), bp and Eni have signed an agreement to begin exploration activities on a major offshore gas field in the Libyan Mediterranean.
The new president of the NOC, Farhat Bengdara, said: "Libya has reached an agreement with Eni and BP to start drilling and producing gas in the Mediterranean", at the Abu Dhabi International Oil Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC).
Bengdara suggested that the gas field is similar to Egypt's Zohr field, but added that it "is bigger".
The president added that Eni will also invest $8 billion to develop natural gas fields in western Libya.