Lebanon

While projects offshore Cyprus and Israel advance, Lebanon’s latest licensing round follows news that Eni, TotalEnergies, and QatarEnergy drilled a dry hole on Block 9 near the country’s maritime border with Israel.

Lebanon hopes to join the club of EastMed gas producers as TotalEnergies and its partners spud an appraisal well near Beirut’s maritime border with Israel where gas is already being produced.

The new well in offshore Bloc 9 is expected to wrap up by year-end.

QatarEnergy’s acquisition of a 30% interest in E&P blocks offshore Lebanon with TotalEnergies and Eni expands the company’s East Med portfolio while enabling the Emirate to help mediate Beirut’s longstanding political and economic crisis.

The French supermajor is looking to drill Lebanon's first successful exploration well by the end of next year.

Settlement of the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon will unlock new natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Untapped offshore gas reservoirs could easily meet all of the country's domestic needs, while the rest could supply regional neighbors.