Lebanon: TotalEnergies mobilizes to explore Block 9 in 2023

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, received His Excellency Walid Fayad, Minister of Energy and Water of Lebanon, at the Company’s headquarters to discuss the development of TotalEnergies’ activities in Lebanon: the teams in charge of drilling operations on Block 9 are now mobilized.

To date, in addition to the Operations Manager, more than 10 people are involved in the preparation of the well. By the end of March, the team mobilized in Beirut will reach more than 20 employees. The call for tenders to secure the drilling rig has been launched and should lead to a selection of the rig in the first quarter of 2023. Pre-orders have also been placed with suppliers for equipment required for the well. In parallel, offshore resources are being mobilized to contribute to the environmental studies which will be finalized by the end of June 2023.

All those TotalEnergies teams are working in collaboration with LPA to prepare the well in order to achieve the objective of TotalEnergies and its partner ENI to complete the drilling as soon as possible in 2023.

TotalEnergies has been active in Lebanon since 1951, and is the leading retailer in the country. The company also operate in the gas exploration sector.

TotalEnergies and ENI to definite a maritime border between Israel and Lebanon

Last October TotalEnergies and its partner ENI signed, with the State of Israel, a Framework Agreement to implement the agreement on maritime boundary which has been reached between Israel and Lebanon.

In Lebanon, TotalEnergies is the operator of the exploration Block 9, and holds a 60% interest, alongside its partner ENI (40%). Following the signature of this Framework Agreement, the Block 9 partners will initiate the exploration of an already identified prospect which might extend both in Block 9 and into Israel waters South of the recently established Maritime Border Line. 

“TotalEnergies, as the operator of Block 9, is proud to be associated with the peaceful definition of a maritime border between Israel and Lebanon. By bringing our expertise in offshore exploration, we will respond to the request of both countries to assess the materiality of hydrocarbon resources and production potential in this area”, said Patrick Pouyanné.