Energy Capital & Power spoke with Pascal Breant, Country Chair of TotalEnergies, Libya, about the company’s role in Libya’s upstream sector; operational targets for key concessions; and vision for future years to come.
Having been active in Libya for over 60 years, how has TotalEnergies contributed to sustainable energy development in the country? What role does Libya play in the company’s greater upstream portfolio?
TotalEnergies is a historic partner of Libya and has contributed to the development of energy sector for decades, thanks to its exploration efforts and its participation in operating companies alongside the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Today, TotalEnergies is active through direct participation in Libyan joint ventures or producing companies representing 600,000 barrels per day, or half of the national production. The company has always focused it contribution on supporting the NOC, bringing technical expertise and project management experience, but also in the development of human capacity.
Libya, as part of the Middle East and North Africa region, has and will continue to hold a strategic position in the global upstream portfolio of TotalEnergies. Libya’s energy sector indeed represents a perfect fit in the strategy of the company, as it holds large quantities of oil and gas, and has undeveloped and easy-to-access resources. In addition, there is a large potential to reduce existing greenhouse gas emissions of the oilfields or to develop new projects with low carbon intensity.
What are your operational targets for the Waha concessions, Al Jurf field, and El Sharara area?
The target that we set as co-owners with the NOC of those assets is that they need to contribute in a sustainable manner to the wealth of Libya and to its economic development. It means first, operational excellence that goes with world-class safety records, excellence in day-to-day operations and systems but also development of projects aiming at maximizing the ultimate recovery of resources. Besides, and we are doing a lot of efforts in this domain, we want to accelerate all the possible projects which will reduce the existing greenhouse gas emissions of the operations and avoid emissions for the new projects. It is time now, more than ever.
What is the extent of TotalEnergies’ partnership agreement with the NOC in the Waha concessions and what do you see as the primary opportunities for public-private sector collaboration?
TotalEnergies became the lead international partner in the Waha concessions in early 2021, and this is the perfect example of the public-private sector collaboration. This collaboration, in our opinion, aims at joining forces to maximize the resources of the Waha concessions while at the same time reducing the impact of the operations on the environment. This covers, of course, sharing TotalEnergies’ global experience in operations and project management, but a company like TotalEnergies also has the ambition to become a partner of choice for the NOC for the energy transition of its asset. The scope of possibilities on the Waha fields is huge. For instance, we have proposed to help Waha Oil Company to define the best way of reducing gas consumption for power generation by using solar technology.
How has TotalEnergies deployed new and innovative technologies to boost operational efficiencies and maximize hydrocarbon output?
TotalEnergies has proposed to share and deploy with Waha Oil Company its expertise in optimization of operations to enhance the level of production, as there is a huge potential on the Waha concessions’ base line. Our experts are also proposing assistance on an on-call basis for various troubleshooting operations. We are also ready to bring support to the project management on North Gialo miscible gas development project, which is an advanced reservoir engineering scheme, and this is within the field of expertise of TotalEnergies.
In light of the establishment of a transitional government last March, how would TotalEnergies characterize the ease of doing business in Libya?
TotalEnergies has been partner of Libya for decades and has always been supportive of the National Oil Corporation and Libyan governmental authorities, even in the difficult periods, and will continue to do so. Long-standing partners always find solutions to overcome difficulties and Libya is a country where we have always found a high level of cooperation and constructive spirit.
Earlier this year, TotalEnergies delivered equipment to hospitals throughout Libya to fight against COVID-19. How did this initiative come to fruition and what other community relief measures has the company been involved in during the pandemic?
TotalEnergies in Libya has always made the health and safety of its employees and communities its priority, by being a socially responsible partner and a good neighbour to the people of Libya. Therefore, we have and will continue responding to all solidarity calls.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and over the last few months, TotalEnergies in Libya has delivered five oxygen-generating and cylinder filling container plants to five hospitals throughout the country. It came as an urgent response, as the pandemic was developing, with delivery of medical PPE kits, RT-PCR machines and thousands of test samples, which have been delivered to support the local communities but also the workers in the oilfields. TotalEnergies is committed to continuing being a partner of choice for Libya, in very close coordination with the NOC Sustainable Development Department, for its neighbors in operations areas, and more generally for the people of Libya.
What is your vision for TotalEnergies’ operations in Libya in the years to come? What will be the key to unlocking production targets?
Energy is a source of progress and progress needs energy. The company has embarked on a deep transformation amid changes in the global energy landscape. Being a multi energy provider, we have the ambition to be a partner of choice for Libya towards the transformation to cleaner energy. To this extent, while promoting new projects to increase production in the country with the highest standards in terms of carbon emissions, we also have the ambition to develop solar projects to contribute in practical terms and accompany the shift to greener and more reliable electricity supply to the Libyan people.
Libya’s renewable energy potential will be unpacked during a renewable energy panel at the upcoming Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2021, taking place on 22-23 November 2021, in-person in Tripoli and on Zoom for online participants. Energy Capital & Power is honored to work with the Government of National Unity and all industry participants to produce this historic summit.
Companies interested in supporting the event can contact [email protected] for more information. Individuals and organizations that wish to join as speakers or panelists can contact [email protected] and media partners can contact [email protected]. Learn more at www.libyasummit.com.
