The end of the seabed and acoustics survey in block nine in the south of the Mediterranean basin marks the beginning of the road to the prospecting process, the first executive step on the ground since the initiation of the border demarcation agreement with Israel, he stressed.
Speaking to the press after visiting the environmental vessel Janus II, the owner insisted that there is no delay on file and proof of this is the commitment of the French company TotalEnergies, the Italian Eni and Qatar Energy to complete this operation.
The Lebanese authority pointed out that obtaining the appropriate environmental permit from the environment and energy ministries is the most important precaution before the platform arrives and the drilling operation begins.
On the subject, Fayyad said that the international consortium showed optimism in view of starting work at the end of the summer after receiving the platform.
The minister ruled out postponing the exploration work, adding that figures so far suggest the block nine gas field is promising.
Late last month, the interim government of Lebanon announced Qatar Energy’s entry into the international consortium along with TotalEnergies and Eni to explore the national coast in search of gas and oil.
The operator TotalEnergies and Eni are the rights holders in block nine with a 35 percent stake; Meanwhile, Qatar Energy acquired 30 percent.
In November 2022, TotalEnergies initiated the start of exploration activities in the Mediterranean Sea off the Lebanese Sea after a boundary agreement was reached between the Levantine country and Israel.
mem/yma