Reports: Libya denies cutting gas exports to Italy
Italy wants Libya to boost its gas exports to Europe in an effort to reduce the continent’s energy dependence on Russia.
![A general view taken on January 6, 2015, shows the Mellitah Oil and Gas terminal on the outskirts of Zwara in western Libya.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/2022-07/GettyImages-461077830.jpeg?h=efb3fb8f&itok=YNISdpdv)
A controversy is brewing between Libya and Italy over gas exports.
What happened: On July 5, The Libya Herald reported that Libya’s Tripoli-based government is considering cutting gas exports to the Italian energy company Eni by 25%. The gas would instead be used for local gas consumption. Like other countries across North Africa and the Middle East, Libya is suffering from electricity cuts, according to the English-language Libyan outlet. The news was heavily covered in Libyan and Italian media.