Libya is considering whether to intervene in a $450 million deal that French major Total (TOTF.PA) announced last month to buy a Marathon Oil (MRO.N) stake in the country’s Waha concessions, several sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Officials were considering a range of options ranging from pushing for better terms – after some in the oil industry and the media said the price was too low – to a counter-offer from the state National Oil Corporation (NOC), the sources said.
“The NOC wants to buy the Total part,” one source from the leadership of Libya’s internationally recognized government, the Presidency Council (PC), said.
He added that officials were examining the value of the 16.33 percent Waha share with a view to possibly raising funds for a counter offer with money from Libya’s $67 billion sovereign wealth fund, the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA).
“They think of the LIA as a potential financier … LIA is exploring it, the process is just starting,” the source said
Libya had not given the required formal approval to the Total-Marathon deal, meaning it could be blocked, the source added.
NOC confirmed in a statement on Monday that it was “discussing arrangements” over Marathon’s “planned sale” with the PC. “Any transaction of this nature must have the approval of NOC and the Libyan authorities,” it said in a statement.
The Libyan Investment Authority did not immediately provide a response.
Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne told reporters at an industry event in Paris on Thursday that the deal was all but settled.
“The transaction is closed,” Pouyanne said. “There are some discussions on some fiscal issues with the government, but it will be done.”
