Lebanese officials view the maritime border demarcation agreement as a savior from the crises plaguing the country, urging for an expedited start to oil exploration. President Michel Aoun expressed this sentiment yesterday, stating that the maritime demarcation agreement "will lift Lebanon from the abyss into which it has fallen." Energy and Water Minister Walid Fayad also announced the commitment of Total to commence gas exploration in the Qana field, which has become Lebanon’s share under the recent agreement, as quickly as possible with a swift timeline.
President Aoun discussed the importance of the agreement, which was achieved after indirect negotiations with Israel, considering it "a gift to the Lebanese people from all its segments." He affirmed that "it will enable Lebanon to extract oil and gas, thereby rescuing the country from the abyss."
Lebanon awaits U.S. confirmation of Israeli approval of the agreement to begin the Lebanese procedures, which will include a message to Washington affirming Lebanon's commitment to the contents of the agreement. This message is to be signed by President Michel Aoun or his delegate, in coordination with the Prime Minister.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, appointed by the President to follow up on the file with the Americans, revealed to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the agreement project will not be discussed in the Council of Ministers nor presented to Parliament, as the decree that Lebanon had previously submitted to the United Nations regarding its maritime borders includes the same points outlined in the agreement. Thus, Lebanon has obtained what it initially requested, which is a decree prepared by the government and sent to the United Nations.
While awaiting the signing of the agreement and the initiation of practical steps, the Energy Minister announced following a meeting with President Aoun that the delegation from Total Energies, responsible for the consortium exploring in southern Lebanon, particularly in the Qana field, Block 9, and Block 4, has expressed its full commitment to start as soon as possible. Simultaneously, with the completion of the agreement, and that the timeline would be expedited for the national interest and the benefit of the region and the global economy, mentioning that it would take a few months to prepare for exploration activities once the agreement is finalized.
He clarified: "We will follow up on the implementation mechanisms in the upcoming phase, including collaboration with Total and international partners interested; because now it will open the field for other companies and countries interested in the oil sector to participate. There is a second licensing round that we could benefit from, and we invite other companies to participate."
In response to a question regarding the main terms of the agreement with Total, Fayad stated: "The agreement with the company is under the exploration law, and the contract concluded with it forms a kind of partnership between the Lebanese state and the consortium, wherein the Lebanese state receives the larger share of production in exchange for a slightly smaller share for the consortium. All shares are specified in the existing agreement, and the company must now fulfill its obligations."
He added: "The obstacle was political previously, and hopefully, after resolving the political issues, the preparatory work for the agreement will commence starting tomorrow, particularly in Block 9, as expressed by the delegation members."
Meanwhile, there have been Lebanese calls for the public and Parliament to be informed about the demarcation agreement, highlighted by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in a television interview: "This agreement is preliminary among the concerned parties, through the American mediator. Since we have reached this point, it is essential—just as Israel says it will present this agreement to the Israelis and the Knesset for their opinion and approval—that the Lebanese government must not only rely on the approval of the three presidents: the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, and the Prime Minister. There is a need—a constitutional necessity—to explain this agreement, so that the Lebanese become aware of what has transpired. It should also be presented to Parliament for study and approval."
The same sentiment was echoed by the Vice President of the Lebanese Forces, MP Selim Saadeh, who met yesterday with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi, discussing the maritime border demarcation issue and the presidential file. Saadeh explained the legal and political dimensions of the demarcation, asserting that "the agreement is like an international treaty that must be ratified in Parliament after discussion, otherwise, it becomes subject to challenge," according to a statement issued by him.
