Lebanon's muted celebrations
IOCs' wariness takes the shine off Lebanon's first licensing round
This should be the year when Lebanon celebrates the coming of age of its long-nascent energy sector, with an eye on the estimated 95 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 0.75bn barrels of oil in its offshore. At the start of 2017 the political blocks were mostly in place and signs looked promising. After 30 months without a president, Michel Aoun had been elected head of state and Saad al-Hariri had formed a government. The new administration then passed laws governing bidding and contracts, allowing the country's energy minister Cesar Abi Khalil on 26 January to announce a timetable for the first offshore licensing round. On offer are blocks 1, 4, 8, 9 and 10. The minister said that the 4
Also in this section
21 April 2026
After overcoming a COVID-induced demand collapse with several years of successful market management, geopolitical events have conspired to provide the pact’s biggest test to date
21 April 2026
The regime’s policy of using nuclear ambiguity as a deterrent may have failed but it has realised it has other cards to play, while its neighbours are reappraising their approach to security
21 April 2026
As the global energy system undergoes a fundamental realignment, Algihaz Holdings has established itself as a critical player bridging conventional energy markets and the next generation of renewable infrastructure.
21 April 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress is taking place from 11-15 October 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.
