The Italian energy company Eni announced that it has agreed with Libya to invest in the construction of a military port, a desalination plant, and 1,000 houses in the El Agheila area of the Libyan Gulf of Sirte, without providing details of the agreement.
ENI, the largest Italian gas and oil company, is the biggest foreign player in Libya when it comes to hydrocarbon production. The company stated that the agreement is part of a broader Italian-Libyan agreement from 2006, which stipulated investment in social projects such as building hospitals, protecting archaeological sites, and educating Libyan students. The traditionally strong ties between Italy and Libya were further solidified by the so-called “friendship agreement” of 2008, under which Italy agreed to pay Tripoli five billion dollars for a 30-year military occupation. (H)
