Bassil Says Qualified Candidates to be Appointed in Oil Authority

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil described on Wednesday the appointment of the oil authority members as a “puzzle” over the difficulty in finding qualified candidates for six vacant posts.

“The concerned sides presented the names of their candidates, which is a positive matter, but not enough,” Bassil said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

He pointed out that the candidates should be compatible with each other.

“Every qualified candidate should be in his right place,” Bassil noted.

In March, the cabinet approved the appointment of the six members of the authority tasked with administrating the oil sector.

It also approved in January the oil and gas decrees after lengthy discussion over who should administer the tender and oil and gas exploration in Lebanon’s offshore territorial borders.

The minister said that the cabinet is seeking to appoint those who have the “best” qualifications, expressing belief that the appointments will be carried out “soon.”

He expected the cabinet to resolve the matter before the end of the current year to issue permits that would enable extraction of Lebanon's offshore natural resources.

Media reports said that there are 18 candidates who will distributed on 6 posts.

The area off the southern coast alone contains 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Bassil said.

Speaker Nabih Berri told As Safir that the cabinet should swiftly appoint the members of the oil authority to kick off the tenders.

The speaker pointed out that Amal Movement and Hizbullah are presenting all the necessary facilities concerning the matter.

He reiterated that the cabinet previously “settled the issue of setting a rotating presidency,” knowing that the first round will be headed by the Shiite member.

On Monday, Bassil said that Lebanon is technically ready to start drilling for offshore natural gas reserves after exploration in around half the country's exclusive economic zone was completed.

He noted that two companies working with the Lebanese authorities that specialize in three-dimensional exploration have already surveyed around half the EEZ.