Egypt Pushes to Accelerate Gas, Refining and Power Projects With Libya
Egypt is seeking faster progress on joint energy projects with Libya, including gas pipeline connections, crude oil refining and electricity links, as Cairo looks to strengthen its energy security and expand cooperation with its neighbor.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty raised the issue during a meeting with Libya’s Acting Minister of Oil and Gas, Khalifa Abdulsadek, in Tripoli on November 7. Abdelatty called for faster implementation of existing projects covering gas infrastructure, petroleum products, refining and electricity.
According to a Reuters report, Egypt also wants to complete arrangements that would allow it to refine Libyan crude oil and re-export the resulting petroleum products to international markets.
The discussions come as Egypt faces pressure on its energy supply. Lower domestic natural gas production and higher international liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices have increased the cost of securing fuel, strengthening Cairo’s interest in regional energy cooperation.
Abdulsadek said Libya would continue implementing existing joint projects and plans to visit Cairo soon for further technical discussions with Egypt’s petroleum and electricity ministers.
Gas and Refining Cooperation Could Expand Trade
Gas pipeline connections between Libya and Egypt could create opportunities to strengthen regional energy trade and improve access to natural gas for both countries.
However, the two governments have not released technical details, investment figures or completion timelines for the proposed pipeline projects. Their economic value will depend on infrastructure requirements, available gas volumes and the commercial terms agreed by both sides.
Refining cooperation offers another potential opportunity. Egypt wants to process Libyan crude at its refineries before exporting the resulting products, creating a commercial arrangement that could connect Libya’s crude supply with Egyptian processing capacity and international fuel markets.
For Libya, this could provide additional options for marketing its crude and accessing refined petroleum products. It could also support cooperation on domestic refinery rehabilitation, which remains an important part of the country’s efforts to strengthen its downstream sector.
The discussions build on wider efforts to develop Libya’s energy infrastructure. Italian energy company Eni, for example, has pursued new offshore gas infrastructure through its Libya offshore gas subsea tender, highlighting the continued interest in developing the country’s gas sector.
Electricity Links and Libya’s Energy Priorities
Electricity interconnection also featured prominently in the talks. Egypt and Libya have discussed links between their power networks, which could support electricity exchanges and improve regional energy cooperation.
For Libya, stronger electricity infrastructure could help address domestic supply challenges and support longer-term demand from households and businesses. However, the benefits will depend on the capacity of the connection, investment in transmission infrastructure and the ability of both countries to maintain reliable power supplies.
The latest discussions also come as Libya seeks to increase oil and gas production while improving the performance of its energy sector. The country recorded 43.47 million barrels of oil production in October, underlining the importance of maintaining output while developing infrastructure beyond crude exports.
The meeting signals renewed interest in closer energy ties between Cairo and Tripoli. The next challenge will be turning existing agreements and discussions into projects with clear financing, technical plans and implementation schedules.
Neither side has announced a timeline or investment commitments for the projects discussed.
