Italian energy company Eni has announced the discovery of more than 1 trillion cubic feet of gas from two exploration wells drilled offshore Libya near the Bahr Essalam field.
The finds were made at the Bahr Essalam South 2 and Bahr Essalam South 3 structures, situated about 85 kilometres offshore in waters approximately 650 feet deep and roughly 16 kilometres south of the main field.
The wells encountered gas bearing formations within the Metlaoui Formation, which serves as the principal producing reservoir in the area.
Eni said analysis from drilling and testing confirmed high quality reservoirs with strong potential for commercial production. Early estimates indicate that the two structures together hold more than 1 trillion cubic feet of gas.
The company noted that development could be fast tracked by connecting the discoveries to existing offshore facilities due to their close proximity to current infrastructure at the Bahr Essalam field.
The gas is expected to support Libya’s domestic energy needs, with the possibility of exports to Italy.
Bahr Essalam remains Libya’s largest offshore gas field and has been producing since 2005.
Eni, which has operated in Libya since 1959, continues to be the country’s leading international operator. The company reported equity production of about 162,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025 and currently has three development projects underway in the country, with two expected to begin operations in 2026.