Lebanese government has re-launched its first offshore oil and gas licensing round after a three-year delay.
Lebanon launched its first offshore licensing round in 2013 but failed to see it through due to political turmoil.
On Thursday, January 26 the country’s Minister of Energy and Water, Cesar Abi Khalil , announced that five offshore blocks will be open for bidding for oil and gas exploration. The blocks included in the round are Blocks 1, 4, 8, 9, and 10.
The minister said that a second pre-qualification round for companies interested in exploration and production contracts will be open on February 2, 2017.
The re-launching of the licensing round follows the government’s approval of two offshore oil and gas decrees in early January, which outlined conditions related to the licensing round and the exploration and production model agreement.
Offshore Energy Today Staff