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Political Disputes Delay Lebanon’s Gas Projects

In light of Lebanon’s governmental vacuum and developments in neighboring Syria, certain parties want to delay the bidding process for exploration rights to the country’s offshore gas fields.
Caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil points at a map during a tour of areas believed to have gas reserves, off Lebanon's coast near Beirut May 30, 2013.  Offshore seismic surveys suggest Lebanon has at least 30 trillion cubic feet in just a small fraction of its Mediterranean waters Bassil said. Lebanon has selected 46 international oil companies to bid to explore for gas off its coast, where survey ships have been assessing prospects after discoveries in waters off neighbouring Israel and Cyprus. Pictur

The time schedule that was set by Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy to explore and extract gas from the Lebanese maritime economic zone in the Mediterranean was once again delayed, due to the political situation and bickering between officials. The new date — which is likely to be postponed for the same reasons, despite the efforts exerted by the energy minister to prevent such a delay — is scheduled for today, Monday, Sept. 2.

On April 18, Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’s energy and water minister, announced the final list of companies that made it through the pre-qualification round and are eligible to participate in the first licensing round for gas exploration and extraction. This included 46 international oil companies, which were approved to act as operators, non-operators and right holders.

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