The Greenstream gas pipeline, which brings Libyan gas to Italy 510 kilometres undersea from Mellita on the North coast to Europe via Gela in Sicily, has been repaired, according to a Reuters report.
Libyan NTC military spokesman Ahmed Bani told Reuters the gas pipeline is “back and running, supplying the pump stations and the Mellitah (gas processing) refinery. Gas will start flowing to Europe.” Bani did not give a timeframe for exports to begin.
Bani said the closure had resulted in the loss of about 1 million euros ($1.44 million) per day worth of gas. The transitional government badly needs hydrocarbon revenue to rectify shortages of food, water and government salaries.
The Greenstream, inaugerated by Gaddafi in 2004, is 50% owned by Italian oil firm Eni, which has significant interests in Libya totalling 13% of its global portfolio.
