(Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is preparing a trip to Libya as part of her efforts to secure more oil and gas supplies from North Africa.

She may go to the capital Tripoli as early as Saturday, according to people familiar with the matter. The trip is not confirmed and might be delayed or canceled because of security concerns, the people said, asking not to be named discussing confidential deliberations.

The visit would follow one she made to Algeria earlier this week with a delegation that included the chief executive officer of Eni SpA, Claudio Descalzi.

A spokesperson for Italy’s government declined to comment.

Eni is set to agree to an $8 billion investment in Libyan gas fields in the coming days, the country’s state energy company has said. It’s unclear if Meloni’s trip would be to announce that.

Read More: Libya Says Italy’s Eni Is Set to Sign $8 Billion Gas Deal

Italy, like many other European nations, is trying to wean itself of Russian oil and gas following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. That’s led to a scramble for extra supplies from the Middle East, Africa and the US.

Libya has some of Africa’s biggest oil and gas reserves and its close proximity to Europe could make it one of the continent’s biggest energy providers. Yet its exports have long been hindered by conflict and political discord.

--With assistance from Salma El Wardany.

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