A new offshore energy exploration agreement between Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and a consortium including Turkish and European companies is drawing intense scrutiny in Greece, where officials oppose maritime claims stemming from the controversial Turkey-Libya accord.
The agreement, signed Monday in Benghazi, covers an offshore block of about 10,300 square kilometers northwest of the eastern Libyan city. The consortium includes Turkey’s TPAO and Spain’s Repsol, each with 40% stakes, along with Hungary’s MOL, Italy’s Eni and QatarEnergy.
While the exploration area lies south of the maritime zones claimed by Greece and does not physically overlap with Greek-licensed blocks south of Crete, analysts in Athens say the deal establishes a troubling precedent. It underscores Ankara’s efforts to secure tangible results within the framework of the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, which Greece rejects as a violation of international law.
The participation of companies from EU member-states Spain, Italy and Hungary has also fueled cynicism in Athens. The development highlights a long-standing geopolitical “marriage” between Turkey and key European nations, including Spain and Italy. From the Greek perspective, it is increasingly clear that several EU partners view Turkey as an indispensable strategic partner, dismissing Greece’s security concerns as a “necessary evil.”
Monday’s agreement also comes as Libya seeks to revive hydrocarbon exploration after nearly two decades, aiming to boost crude production beyond its current 1.3 to 1.4 million barrels per day.
Concurrently, US involvement in Libya’s energy sector has accelerated significantly under the Donald Trump presidency, with American energy giants like ConocoPhillips, Chevron and ExxonMobil moving forward with deals as part of a broader US diplomatic push to bring Libya’s historically divided institutions under a single, unified authority.
In the meantime, on the same day the Turkey-backed energy deal was being signed in Benghazi, Saddam Haftar – the son and political heir of eastern Libyan field marshal Khalifa Haftar – was visiting Athens, even as US plans aim to position him into a future unified Libyan administration.
Read the full article at ekathimerini.com →📄Source document: Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC)
2 reports
ekathimerini.comIndependentLeft3 days agoA new offshore energy exploration agreement between Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and a consortium including Turkish and European companies has drawn scrutiny from Greece. The agreement, signed in Benghazi, involves Turkey's TPAO, Spain's Repsol, Hungary's MOL, Italy's Eni, and QatarEnergy. While the exploration area lies outside Greek-claimed maritime zones, Greek officials and analysts criticize the deal as setting a problematic precedent tied to the 2019 Turkey-Libya maritime memorandum, which Greece opposes. The involvement of EU countries like Spain, Italy, and Hungary has raised
Bias read (Left): The article frames the situation through the lens of Greek opposition to Turkish influence and highlights concerns over the geopolitical alignment between Turkey and certain EU members. The emphasis on Greece's security concerns and the rejection of the Turkey-Libya accord as a 'violation of' and 'n
Official sources cited
- government Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC)
- government Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO)
- organisation Repsol (Spain)
- organisation MOL (Hungary)
- organisation Eni (Italy)
ekathimerini.comIndependentCenter6 days ago Mitsotakis, Libyan official talk migration, offshore rightsGreek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held discussions with Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, regarding irregular migration and offshore exploration rights in the Mediterranean. The talks aimed to reinforce historical ties between Greece and Libya and explore opportunities for economic collaboration. Greece and Libya have disagreements over underwater oil and gas exploration rights, with Libya having signed an agreement with Turkey that excludes Greece. Migration control from eastern Libya to Crete was also addressed.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring any side. It reports on diplomatic discussions involving migration and energy rights without using biased language or selectively citing sources. Both Greek and Libyan perspectives are mentioned neutrally.
Official sources cited
- government Greek Officials
- government Saddam Haftar
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