Lebanon officially announced the start of the country's first oil and gas exploration operations in its Exclusive Economic Zone on Feb. 27, according to local media outlets on Monday.
High-level officials made the announcement for the start of operations in block 4 during an official visit to the drillship "Tungsten Explorer" that docked in Lebanese waters on Feb. 25.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Hassan Diab, who were accompanied by the Minister of Energy and Water Raymond Ghajar, and the President of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA) Walid Nasr led the official visit along with the consortium exploration team comprising Total, Eni and Novatek.
The drilling for LPA's projects, located nearly 30 kilometers offshore Beirut, will take up to sixty days after which the consortium will evaluate the results that are likely to be reported two months later in June 2020, according to Total E&P Lebanon.
According to LPA, exploration drilling in block 4 marks the first offshore exploration drilling in Lebanon, describing it as "a frontier, deep water and previously unexplored area."
Speaking aboard the drillship, Aoun relayed that it was a historic day in which Lebanon's dream had been realized.
In January 2018, two exploration and production agreements for block 4 and 9 were signed between Lebanon and the consortium.
The deadline for Lebanon's second offshore licensing round is scheduled for April 30 this year.
By Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr