Today, Tuesday, the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, and the caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, visited the drilling platform for oil and gas exploration in Block 9 in Lebanese territorial waters. This visit was to monitor the logistical work that Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, announced would start next Thursday, following a historic agreement mediated by the United States last year regarding maritime border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel for the first time.
The tour included Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hmayy, Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayyad, Director General of the Presidency, Antoine Choucair, Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Wissam Al-Dhahabi, and a delegation from the French company "Total."
The Lebanese delegation traveled from Rafik Hariri International Airport to the drilling platform in southern Lebanese waters aboard a helicopter belonging to "Total." Presidents Berri and Mikati inspected the logistical preparations to begin drilling operations. Berri expressed at the airport that "in this darkness, a joyful day comes that I have worked for years, until the framework agreement that I announced from Ain al-Tineh on October 1, 2020."
He added: "I call upon the Almighty, that a few months do not pass without Lebanon being blessed with a flow of His grace, which constitutes the beginning of alleviating the economic crisis that Lebanon and its people are experiencing, and also with the consensus of the Lebanese on electing a president who performs his role as the beginning of a political solution we are struggling with."
Mikati, at the Grand Serail, received a delegation from "Total" oil company, in the presence of Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad, following the inspection visit he made with Speaker Nabih Berri and Ministers Walid Fayyad and Ali Hmayy today to the oil and gas drilling platform in Lebanese territorial waters. During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated that "the start of drilling operations on the 24th of this month is a bright milestone that we hope will have happy conclusions in providing additional resources that would help Lebanon rise from its crises."
He emphasized, "Everyone must rise above personal calculations and private considerations and deal with the project as an achievement for all Lebanese and a fundamental pillar for the revival of the national economy." Mikati also met with the Director General of Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman.
### Total Energies Statement
Total Energies and its partners, Eni and Qatar Energy, announced in a statement, "today we launched exploration activities in Block 9 in Lebanon through a visit to the drilling platform Transocean Barents with the presence of Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad, accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hmayy, and representatives from the Petroleum Regulatory Authority."
The statement indicated that "the drilling platform has been stationed since August 16 in Block 9, approximately 120 km from Beirut. During the visit, the necessary preparations for drilling the exploratory well scheduled to begin in the coming days were presented." Roman de la Martinière, the General Director of Total Energies Lebanon stated: "After the peaceful demarcation of maritime borders, Total Energies, along with its partners Eni and Qatar Energy, committed to drilling an exploratory well in Block 9 as soon as possible in 2023. We are pleased to announce that drilling operations will begin in a few days, thanks to the commitment of Total Energies teams and the support of Lebanese authorities and our partners. The exploratory well will allow us to assess hydrocarbon resources and production potential in this region."
The statement noted that "Total Energies is the operator of Block 9 in Lebanese waters with a share of 35%, alongside its partners Eni (35%) and Qatar Energy (30%)."
### Ministry of Energy
Following the inspection visit to the drilling platform in Block 9, Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad held an evaluative meeting in his office at the Ministry of Energy and Water with Total officials Laurent Vivier (Senior Director for the Middle East Exploration), Julian Bouget (Senior Director for Exploration and Production in Asia), and Roman de la Martinière (General Director of Total Energies in Lebanon). They discussed completing preparations and the scheduled timeline for the drilling process, which is set to begin on August 24.
Minister Fayyad stated after the meeting: "On August 24, the drilling process will commence, and it will be a historic day we count on. After 67 days, we will be expecting the results of this drilling. We hope it will be a good omen for the Lebanese." He also affirmed that Total and its partners are fully committed to professional work and that expectations are very positive thus far. They also expressed their interest in the blocks surrounding Block 9 and indicated that there will be developments in this regard that will be announced when they are further solidified.
He concluded: "We also discussed renewable energy, where they show clear interest whether regarding projects of 5 megawatts or larger ones like 100 megawatts. They have sent messages in this regard, and we have work in the ministry, in the government, and at the legislative level to reach good conclusions as well."
Lebanon hopes that discoveries of gas and oil will help it emerge from the severe economic crisis that has caused the local currency to lose more than 98% of its value, depleted the country's foreign reserves, and led to power outages in cities.
