Eni denies requesting increase in Libyan gas supplies to Italy

Italian energy company Eni has denied reports that it requested a 20% increase in natural gas supplies from Libya to Italy, saying the alleged letter on which the reports were based is a falsified document.

In a statement sent to The Libya Observer on Monday, Eni said it had not submitted any request to Mellitah Oil & Gas Company or any other Libyan entity to increase the volumes of gas supplied to Italy.

The company said the letter circulated on social media and cited in reports about the alleged request was not authentic and had not been issued by Eni.

Eni also clarified that the individual identified in the alleged letter as one of its managers is not employed by the company and holds no position within Eni.

The Italian company further said that the information contained in the document regarding the amount of gas exported from Libya was incorrect.

According to Eni, Fawasel Media, whose report cited the alleged letter, has since withdrawn the news.

Eni referred to a statement issued by Libya’s National Oil Corporation for what it described as an accurate representation of the current gas supply situation.

The Libya Observer had reported on August 29, citing Fawasel Media, that Eni had asked Mellitah Oil & Gas Company to increase Libyan gas supplies to Italy by 20%. Based on Eni’s clarification, that information was incorrect. The Libya Observer has therefore corrected the record and regrets the error.