Following the announcement of the arrival of the drilling platform Transocean Barents at block number 9, Lebanon expects oil and gas exploration operations to begin in the coming days. Concurrently with the platform's arrival, which was chartered by Total Energies, the Ministers of Public Works and Transport, and Energy and Water in the caretaker government, Ali Hamieh and Walid Fayyad, inspected the logistical base to be used at Rafic Hariri International Airport for helicopter take-offs and landings, dedicated to providing services to and from the drilling platform at block number 9.
Fayyad stated from the airport: "We have a date in two or three months to know the results of drilling and exploration in block number 9." He continued, "Through maritime demarcation, Lebanon has preserved its rights to resources, and preparations are complete to start drilling in block 9." He added, "We hope that Lebanon will become an oil-producing country, and this will be a beacon of hope for all Lebanese."
Minister of Public Works Ali Hamieh tweeted, "The drilling ship for oil and gas arrived in the area of the ninth concession today, Wednesday, to start exploration activities." Total Energies, the operator of block number 9, announced the arrival of the drilling platform Transocean Barents approximately 120 kilometers from Beirut in Lebanese waters, along with the arrival of the first helicopter at Beirut Airport. This helicopter, operated by Gulf Helicopters, having contracted with Total Energies E&P Block 9, will transport teams to the drilling platform.
In a statement, they noted that the arrival of the two vehicles constitutes an important step in preparing for the first exploratory well drilling in block number 9, which is set to begin at the end of August 2023. A field visit took place on August 16 at Beirut Airport, attended by Walid Fayyad, Minister of Energy and Water, and Ali Hamieh, Minister of Public Works and Transport, alongside representatives from the Petroleum Sector Management Authority. This visit served as an opportunity to remind everyone that operations were progressing according to the timeline and commitments made by the partners in January 2023.
The statement concluded: Total Energies has been present in Lebanon since 2018, the year when exploration and production agreements for blocks 9 and 4 were signed. As the operator of these blocks, Total Energies completed the first exploratory well ever drilled in deep Lebanese waters in block number 4 in early 2020. In line with its contractual obligations with partners Eni and QatarEnergy, Total Energies is preparing to drill a second well, which will take place in block number 9 during 2023.
The commencement of exploration off the coast of Lebanon, carried out by a consortium led by Total Energies, comes after a significant agreement was reached through American mediation last year regarding the demarcation of maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel. The consortium includes the giant Italian energy company Eni and the state-owned QatarEnergy. Lebanon hopes that discoveries of oil and gas will help it emerge from a devastating economic crisis, where the local currency has lost more than 98% of its value, resulting in a dramatic decline in the country’s foreign currency reserves and the implementation of periodic power cuts across the towns and cities. Additionally, a mechanism has also been established for the consortium to exploit potential discoveries extending southward from the ninth concession and crossing the demarcated maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel.
