New proposals may help resolve Israel/Lebanon oil and gas dispute - REUTERS

JUNE 5, 2018 / 10:46 AM
Ari Rabinovitch

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - New ideas proposed in U.S. back-channel mediation of an Israeli-Lebanese maritime dispute over oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean raise the prospect of a partial deal this year, Israel’s energy minister said.

Israel kicked off a gas bonanza in the eastern Mediterranean almost a decade ago with the discovery of two huge gas fields. Others were found in Egypt and Cyprus, and companies are now exploring Lebanese waters as well.

One of the Lebanese blocks being explored, Block 9, borders Israel’s maritime zone and contains waters claimed by both countries. The disputed border also touches two other not-yet-licensed Lebanese blocks.

This has led to years of brinkmanship with officials on both sides promising to protect their resources and warning about encroachment.

“There are some new ideas on the table. More than that I cannot discuss,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, said in a Reuters interview. He oversees energy exploration in Israel and is the pointman in indirect negotiations with Lebanon.

Lebanon sets 80% local worker requirement - OIL & GAS JOURNAL

DEC/05/2017HOUSTON

Lebanon will require that the workforce of its prospective oil and gas industry be 80% Lebanese.

Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil said in a news conference in Beirut that the requirement is part of legislation to be submitted soon to the Cabinet, according to Lebanese press reports.

The country in October concluded its first offshore licensing round after nearly 4 years of delay caused by political conflicts and a vacancy in the presidency.

The round drew bids from two of five blocks on offer from a consortium of Total SA, Eni SPA, and Novatek (OGJ Online, Oct. 13, 2017).

Two Oil Majors Submitted their Bid for the Lebanese Licensing Round - LEBANON GAS NEWS

13.10.2017

Total and ENI along with Novatek submitted in one consortium their bid in the First Lebanese Licensing Round.

The consortium submit its bid on two offshore blocks, 4 and 9.

Lebanon relaunched the licensing round for five offshore blocks (1, 4, 8, 9 and 10) in January after a three-year delay due to political paralysis.

The single bid is presently under evaluation by the Lebanese Petroleum administration, which will send its recommendation to the minister of energy Eng. Cesar Abi Khalil. The minister on its turn will relay it to the council of ministers for final approval.

Lebanon is hoping to make its first award by the end of the year.

Bids on Lebanon offshore energy blocks close - REUTERS

OCTOBER 12, 2017 / 9:29 PM
Reporting by Angus McDowall & Lisa Barrington; editing by David Evans & Jonathan Oatis

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon’s Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil on Thursday said a tender had closed on a first round of offshore energy blocks, and told local media that two consortiums had submitted bids.

India's ONGC Videsh to bid in Lebanon gas field auction: India government - REUTERS

JULY 10, 2017 / 11:15 AM

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian energy company ONGC Videsh will bid in an upcoming auction to explore and develop gas fields off the coast of Lebanon, India's oil minister said on Monday.

ONGC Videsh, the overseas investment arm of India's top explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp, is among several companies pre-qualified to bid for offshore exploration and production licenses from the Middle Eastern nation.

Indian oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, leading a delegation at the World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul, made the comment in a Tweet after meeting with Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Cesar Abou Khalil.

Lebanon prequalifies eight more energy firms for offshore blocks - REUTERS

Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:42am GMT(Reporting By Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall; Editing by Edmund Blair)

BEIRUT, April 26 (Reuters) - Lebanon's government has prequalified eight more companies to bid for its first round of offshore exploration and production licences after prequalifying 46 companies in 2013, Energy and Water Minister Cesar Abou Khalil said on Wednesday.

The bidding process for offshore blocks 1, 4, 8, 9 and 10, three of which border Israeli waters, was postponed for years because of political paralysis in Lebanon until the formation of a new government late last year.

Lebanon relaunches first oil and gas licensing round - REUTERS

Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water, Cesar Abou Khalil
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Thu Jan 26, 2017 | 9:58am EST

Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Susan Thomas and Susan Fenton

Lebanon relaunched its first oil and gas exploration and production licensing round after a three-year delay, its energy minister said on Thursday, kick-starting the development of a hydrocarbon industry stalled by national political paralysis.

Lebanon has opened five offshore blocks (1,4,8,9 and 10) for bidding in a first licensing round, Minister of Energy and Water Cesar Abou Khalil told a news conference.