Offshore Natural Sources Back to Forefront as Tenders Await Appointment of Oil Committee
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Monday that escalation will not benefit any side in Lebanon as tranquility is the only way to resolve disputes and maintain stability.
“It’s the same old rhetoric, escalation will not benefit anyone, and calm is the only way to resolve the issues,” Miqati told As Safir newspaper.
Speaker Nabih Berri held a meeting with Miqati on Saturday, the PM said the meeting tackled the latest developments and the upcoming parliamentary session.
Berri has threatened on Friday to debrief the cabinet if it didn’t carry out its tasks regarding Lebanon’s offshore oil wealth project.
As Safir newspaper reported that the cabinet will issue during its session on Wednesday the decree concerning the appointment of the members of the committee tasked with administrating the oil sector.
Energy Minister Jebran Bassil told the daily that the cabinet should move ahead to take the executive steps and swiftly issue the decree concerning the committee of the oil sector in order to launch the tenders.
“The important thing is that the Civil Service Board doesn’t stop the appointment of the committee members after the cabinet issues the decree,” Bassil stressed.
He told As Safir that the matter shouldn’t be blocked by “administrative and routine measures.”
In January, the cabinet approved the oil and gas decrees after lengthy discussions over who should administer the tender and oil and gas exploration in its offshore territorial borders.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking diplomat told the As Safir that Lebanon’s maritime border could be tackled again with the United Nations after Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour returns from Russia.
Mansour will urge the U.N. to approve Lebanon’s proposed maritime border map, which contradicts that submitted by Israel.
Beirut argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.
The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.
Israel, Cyprus, and Lebanon have discovered huge offshore natural gas deposits beneath the Mediterranean Sea.
Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other eastern Mediterranean countries. Israel, Cyprus and Turkey are all much more advanced in drilling for oil and gas.
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