On this occasion, the then President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, assured that the completion of the dispute file represented a technical work without political dimension or implications, which contradicted Lebanon’s external position in its relations with Tel Aviv.
According to analysts, the unity of the highest authorities of the state, the government and the parliament, together with the effectiveness and power of the Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah), strengthened Lebanon’s position to become a gas and oil producing and exporting state.
According to the disclosures, the text presented by American mediator Amos Hochstein confirmed that the Levantine nation did not give in to Israeli pressure and preserved the entire Cana Field.
Since negotiations resumed in June 2022, Hezbollah has supported the state’s position, assuring that it has the human and military capabilities to maintain the country’s commitment to benefit from its economic zone in the face of Tel Aviv’s ambitions.
One year after this event between two countries at war and after 20 days of constant exchange of fire on the southern border, Prensa Latina announces important dates in the implementation of the agreement so that Lebanon can benefit from its natural resources:
1- On November 15, 2022, the French company TotalEnergies and its Italian partner ENI launched the start of gas exploration and search activities in the Mediterranean in block nine off the coast of Lebanon. 2- In early 2023, on January 29, TotalEnergies and ENI completed the transfer of a 30% interest in exploration blocks 4 and 9 in Lebanese waters to QatarEnergy.
3- On February 19, Lebanon’s Interim Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, reported that the completion of the environmental and acoustic study of the seabed represented the first step towards the prospecting process in block nine in the southern Mediterranean basin.
4- On August 16, the Transocean Barents platform arrived in Lebanese waters, an essential step to begin preparations for the drilling phase.
5- A few days later, on the 22nd of the same month, the TotalEnergies company and its partners Qatar Energy and ENI announced the start of hydrocarbon exploration activities during a visit to the platform of the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and the Interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati; together with other Lebanese authorities.
6- On October 3, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stressed that all indicators for exploration in block nine were positive, while stressing that such a possibility confirms the oil coalition’s desire to take control of fields eight and 10.
7- On October 12, Lebanese economist Ziad Nasreddine said in his article “Under the seabed there is nothing but water”.
In this regard, the expert pointed out that the agreement with the French company envisages drilling at a depth of 4,400 meters and stressed that, given the tensions in the region, it is forbidden to use Lebanese gas as leverage to save Israel.
Previously, the Lebanese Resistance reiterated its commitment to defending the country’s rights to waters and land in the face of any threat and pressure from Israel and its allies.
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