Statoil's Libyan office was inaugurated on 11 December in the country's capital, Tripoli. It was opened by Norway's petroleum and energy minister, Odd Roger Enoksen.
Erik Syrstad, Odd Roger Enoksen og Peter Mellbye during the official opening of Statoil's Libya office. (Photo: Helge Tangen)
The office was established by Statoil in 2005, the same year in which the group was allocated operatorship for two onshore licences.
"It is my wish that Norwegian oil companies can use their experience from the NCS in other petroleum provinces in the world," said Mr Enoksen in his speech.
"I am convinced that Statoil and the rest of the Norwegian petroleum cluster have expertise and technology that can be of interest in Libya."
He is head of a delegation from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy which is visiting the country from 11-13 December.
Guests from the Libyan National Oil Corporation, the Norwegian supplies industry, Norsk Hydro and Statoil's licence partner British Gas were among those taking part in the inauguration.
"The Libyan government's approval of our contracts on 10 December last year represented a milestone," said Peter Mellbye, executive vice president for Statoli's International Exploration & Production business area.
"This marked the start of Statoil's operatorship of a five-year exploration programme in two licences. The goal is to discover oil and gas resources which can form the basis for a long-term presence in Libya."
In the coming operations in Libya, Statoil will draw on useful experience from Algeria, where the group has had activities since 2003.
In Egypt, Statoil was recently awarded exploration acreage through its operatorship of block 9 in the Mediterranean.
Statoil intends to carry out seismic surveys in Libya in 2007. Plans call for the first exploration well to be drilled in 2008.