Gazprom, Shell, Sonatrach and Polski win first gas contracts: Libya

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

TRIPOLI (AFP) — Libya on Sunday awarded four potentially lucrative gas exploration contracts to fuel giants Shell, Gazprom, Sonatrach and Polski, the first ever given to foreign firms as relations warm between Tripoli and the West.

The biggest award went to Algerian firm Sonatrach in association with Oil India and Indian Oil, which was given four blocks covering 6,934 square kilometres (2,677 square miles).

Russian giant Gazprom was awarded three exploration blocs with a total area of 3,936 square kilometres in the southern Ghadames basin.

Gazprom beat off competition from Gaz de France, Inpex of Japan, Russian rival Lukoil, Britain's BG and Polski, agreeing to cede 90 percent of its eventual production to Libya's state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC)....