Albion Energy has been granted an exploration licence by the Maltese government to carry out geological studies in two contested areas to the southeast of the islands. The newspaper said that in 1980, Libya had sent gunboats to stop oil drilling operations in Area 2 after Malta granted an exploration licence to an Italian company. Italy had intervened in the court case because it also had competing claims to Area 2 and Area 7." It added that Albion Energy Malta is fully owned by Albion Energy Limited owned by Tony Buckingham, who is no stranger to exploration in Malta. The website said the Maltese 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.

Source: Libya Today January 29, 2023 02:26 UTC