Bustani Hands Total First License to Drill for Lebanon’s Oil and Gas
Caretaker Energy Minister Nada Bustani on Friday handed the license to drill Lebanon’s first oil exploration well in its territorial waters to the director of Total.
Bustani handed over the permit to drill in Bloc 4 to a consortium comprising energy giants Total (France), ENI (Italy) and Novatek (Russia).
Last year, Lebanon signed its first contract to drill for oil and gas in its waters.
Total, ENI and Novatek took the first two of its 10 blocks, including in Bloc 9, disputed by neighboring Israel with which Lebanon has fought several wars.
Total said it was aware of the border dispute in less than eight percent of block 9 and said it would drill away from that area.
On April 5, Lebanon invited international consortia of at least three companies to bid for five more blocks by the end of January 2020.
Source: Naharnet
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