Albion Energy has been granted an exploration licence by the Maltese government to carry out geological studies in two areas to the southeast of the islands. The licence is for offshore Areas 2 and 7 over which there have been competing claims by Italy and Libya over the years. The government entered into a two-year exploration study agreement with Albion Energy Malta Limited with a possibility of extending it by a further two years, subject to an additional work programme. Albion Energy Malta is fully owned by Albion Energy Limited owned by Tony Buckingham, who is no stranger to exploration in Malta. In 1980, Libya had sent gunboats to stop oil drilling operations in Area 2 after Malta granted an exploration licence to an Italian company.

Source: Libya Today January 26, 2023 00:22 UTC