Yesterday, it was officially confirmed that there is no gas in Block 9. This comes after multiple leaks since Wednesday evening from informed sources revealing that "the consortium responsible for exploratory drilling found only water." This marks the second shock for Lebanon, following the earlier announcement years ago about the absence of commercially viable oil and gas in Block 4. Petroleum advisor Khadija Hakim told the newspaper "Nidaa al-Watan": "It was expected that exploratory drilling would conclude at the end of this month, adhering to the 67-day period that the operator (Total Energies) committed to for drilling in well 'Qana 31/1.' Therefore, it's surprising to have an announcement before this deadline. However, the lack of a definitive official response or comment from Lebanon so far raises waves of astonishment and confusion, along with disappointment that the Lebanese citizen can no longer bear the consequences of."
Hakim added: "The timing of these news leaks, amidst the tension and turmoil in the region and the rumors about the possibility of dragging Lebanon into a full-scale war with Israel, raises suspicions. The timing of the announcement of no gas, along with the official silence regarding any final response or comment, poses questions about the validity of claims regarding international pressure on Lebanon coinciding with Israel's declaration of its ground offensive on Gaza, in exchange for obtaining guarantees to keep Lebanon neutral from the ongoing war in relation to the oil and gas file." She continued: "If what has been rumored is true, we will undoubtedly be under a shock whose ramifications will not be limited to disappointment over Block 9, but will also extend worries to Blocks 8 and 10, which the consortium has applied to bid on, in addition to reviving questions about the purpose and rationale behind hastening the demarcation of the southern exclusive economic zone, which we still consider a 'booby-trapped grain' that gave Israel what it had never dreamed of obtaining at the expense of Lebanon’s rights and resources."
