Libya’s national oil corporation (NOC) has disclosed that Italian energy company Eni and British oil giant BP have resumed exploration in Libya after onshore drilling was halted in 2014,

According to the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Repsol, the Spanish oil company, is equally preparing to restart drilling in the Murzuq Basin, while Austria’s OMV plans to resume its activities in the Sirte Basin in the coming weeks.

NOC stated that Eni has begun exploration activities on Saturday in Area “B” (96/3) of the Ghadames Basin, marking its first well under the Fourth Contracting Agreement, 2007. 

Eni operates the well in partnership with BP and the Libyan Investment Authority. Mellitah Oil & Gas, an Eni affiliate, will oversee the drilling process, leveraging its experience from operating its own Al-Wafa field.