Turkey considers supplying Libyan gas to Italy, balanced via Azerbaijani gas swaps

Turkey sees potential for supplying gas from Libya to the Italian market and is considering balancing those volumes through swap arrangements involving Azerbaijani gas, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told broadcaster A Haber.

Bayraktar said direct gas deliveries from Libya to Turkey are complicated by the absence of a pipeline, as well as the need for liquefaction infrastructure and LNG tankers. As an alternative, an existing pipeline from northern Libya to Italy is being considered.

“Rather than bringing the gas we have identified in Libya to Turkey, we can sell it to the Italian market given the geographical proximity. At the same time, gas that Italy imports from Azerbaijan could be added to our balance through swap mechanisms,” Bayraktar said.

He added that 2026 would be declared the “Year of Libya–Turkey energy cooperation”. Turkey is preparing to take part in a new licensing round in Libya in February and plans active involvement in both offshore and onshore sectors.

Azerbaijani gas is delivered to Italy via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). In 2025, Azerbaijan supplied 9.5 billion cubic metres of gas to Italy.

Since TAP was commissioned, total gas deliveries to Europe have reached 54.3 bcm, of which 45.4 bcm were supplied to Italy.

In June 2025, Turkey’s state oil company TPAO and Libya’s National Oil Corporation signed an agreement to conduct seismic surveys in Libyan offshore fields.