Source reveals when TotalEnergies will start exploration on the Lebanese shelf

BEIRUT, 11 Oct – PRIME. The French oil and gas company TotalEnergies will start exploratory drilling on the Lebanese shelf in March 2023, a Lebanese informed source told RIA Novosti.

“Lebanon and the delegation of the French company TotalEnergies have reached agreements in principle on the start of exploratory drilling at Block 9 in March 2023,” the source said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the press service of the Lebanese Cabinet reported that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked oil and gas company TotalEnergies to immediately start exploration on the country’s shelf.

On Monday, the al-Araby TV channel, citing official sources, reported that an agreement on the demarcation of the borders between Lebanon and Israel could be signed on October 20 in the Lebanese village of Naqoura.

Lebanon is satisfied with the draft agreement on the demarcation of maritime borders with Israel and believes that all of its requirements have been taken into account, the Office of the President of the country said earlier.

Israel in June urged the Lebanese authorities to expedite negotiations on the maritime border, called the Karish field its strategic asset and assured that it did not intend to produce gas in the disputed territory.

Land and sea border talks between Lebanon and Israel have been going on in the settlement of Naqoura in southern Lebanon since 1996 on the basis of a memorandum of understanding under the auspices of the United Nations and mediated by the United States.