L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

a 19% stake in Novatek, which gives the state-controlled energy
giant some influence on the company's strategy. However, since the
end of 2010 its positions began to expand due to the government
drive to support competition on domestic markets. In 2009, Novatek
achieved what international analyst called “one exciting success” by
getting both the green light and the backing to proceed with projects
ahead of schedule, beginning operations for two wells in 2009 instead
of the scheduled 2010 46 .
The interest in Egyptian energy resources markets was manifested
by two other Russian giants – GAZPROM and Stroytransgas.
The latter completed in 2010 construction of a leg the Arab Pipeline,
which brings gas from Egypt to Syria and Lebanon.
As for other branches of mining, in 2009, Russia signed a cooperation
agreement with Egypt in the exploration and mining of uranium.
Soviet-Libyan economic, scientific and technical cooperation
played an important role in the development of the oil and gas deposits
in Libya. Beginning with 1979, Soviet and Libyan organizations
have been successfully cooperating in drilling work on the
Sarir deposit, Soviet organizations have evolved the General
Scheme for the Comprehensive Development of the Libyan Gas Industry
up to the Year 2000, They have also started construction of
the Marsa el Brega – Misurata gas pipeline stretching for about 570
kilometers. 47
In August 2009, the company Tatneft began commercial oil production
in Libya. In all, Tatneft has signed four contracts in Libya
for oil production on a production sharing basis in areas covering a
total of 18 thousand square kilometers. Two exploration wells were
drilled in Area 82-4 in Lybia with commercial oil flows received.
Drilling of the first exploration well was started in Area 82-1. 48
In 2009, Gazprom and the Italian energy company Eni agreed on
terms for the Russian company to join the Libyan project Elephant.
Libya has not objected to Gazprom's inclusion in the project for development
of the Elephant oil field, in which Eni is participating on
an equal basis with its Libyan partners. Thus, Gazprom has acquired
half of the Italian stake in the project.
106