Bassil Postpones Oil and Gas Tenders for 3rd and 'Last' Time
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil postponed for the third time on Wednesday tenders for the licensing of offshore oil and gas exploration to April 10 after the resigned government failed to approve two decrees.
“We thank all the companies that wanted to participate and take the risk to invest in Lebanon at these difficult circumstances,” Bassil said during a press conference he held to announce the postponement.
“We are giving another three months. This will be the last time that the postponement is made,” he warned.
“April 10 is the final date if there were enough companies to participate in the tender,” he said.
The tender has been previously postponed for two times over the failure of the caretaker cabinet to approve the decrees that call for demarcating 10 maritime oil exploration blocks and setting up a revenue-sharing model.
Bassil has worked hard to persuade caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati to hold a cabinet session to approve the decrees.
But Miqati argues that the issue requires a unanimous political agreement and that a caretaker cabinet can't approve non-essential decrees.
08 January 2014, 18:54
94
Que bonita photo ...la verdad parace como el jefe del trubo Zulu
08 January 2014, 13:25
623
So, instead of getting on with the matter of the licenses, all the Lebanese will then complain that Israel is stealing their natural gas.
Guys, wake up, get the licenses issued and start drilling for the gas which will eventually change the whole face of the Lebanese economy (as long as too much of the money is not paid off in bribes)
08 January 2014, 14:25
219
@Phillipo : issued to whom and issued by whom ? This government has shown it is no more transparent and fair than any other government. It is at the least as corrupt and they want to rush things to take their share.
You know Russia signed a deal with Syria a couple of weeks ago without anyone noticing ? The same Syria who's illegal regime M8 traitors are defending ?
We will not let an Iranian / Syrian mafia touch our ressources ! Ya mahla the alternative !!!
10 January 2014, 15:03
12
Even though at the moment the Government is a caretaker one, issuing the contracts should (?) be no problem.
By the time the tenders have to be in, scrutinized and then whichever are accepted, there is a fair chance that Lebanon will have a permanent government.
It will then take another year at least before the first hole starts getting drilled, so unless you do something now, there is no chance that Lebanon will be able to benefit from its natural resources before 2018 at the earliest. Every single day is critical.
08 January 2014, 13:51
2010
I don't want this thief or his father inlaw anywhere near tenders for the gas and oil because you can guarantee they will be lining their own pockets first and last . Lets get a government elected by the people in power then and only then can we get on with the business of oil and gas .
08 January 2014, 14:12
514
Who are the people in power you are talking about?
From the history of government leaderships, who do you think is more clean and more qualified to drive this business?
09 January 2014, 04:13
33
In comparison to this Government, the Government formed by M14 in 2005/2006 wass by far more qualified, less corrupt, and produced much stronger economic growth. Hope this answers your question visitor.
08 January 2014, 14:16
317
I don't give a damn who does the deal, let's start it before it is too late.
WHOEVER DOES IT WILL LINE THEIR POCKETS!
08 January 2014, 13:56
226
what's your take on the shocking death/murder of Monica Spear, the former Miss Venezuela? You think M14 has something to do with it?
08 January 2014, 14:21
196
ice-man
For a change let's blame this murder on either HA or ISIL
give a break to M14ers what you say?
08 January 2014, 14:23
198
imBassil : stop diverting your sheep's attention to topics that are irrelevant. Until you solve our current political crisis, no one should touch the oil file. This includes dealing with Hezbollah's intervention in Syria and setting a roadmap for disarming Hezbollah.
No one will invest in oil exploration in a non-sovereign country overrun by terrorists.
And it doesn't make any sense rushing the oil file in a "Race" to siphon the oil before Israel. Unless you solve the differences with Israel politically, there is no possible way of extracting the oil of our southern waters. No oil company will invest in drilling and risk losing their investments in a potential war.
08 January 2014, 15:00
515
what is better exploiting our own gaz and oil or get 60 billion debts ?
what is better making our own money or licking the arses of emirs and kings ?
people will indentify themselves from the above choices
08 January 2014, 15:49
164
Mr guest (reason) thats not a very intelligent statement ( lets get it done) and (whoevers in power will line their own pockets) do you think the people of lebanon will benefit not at all so why do you want to get it done " what before aoun dies or something " because he and his pathetic son inlaw are incompetent idiots who should not be allowed anywhere near tenders and contracts wheres the damn 24 hour electricity he bragged about its all B.S
08 January 2014, 15:56
145
60 billion debt is a fraction of the problems lebanon has our electricity supply is pathetic how do you expect tourist and foreign nationals to visit in 2014 and we have a crap electricity supply bwesir is on the take with the private generator operators what are his qualifications to be minister of energy "none" lets get someone who can get the job done and it should have nothing to do with anyone damn religion when trying to find someone i'm for a secular lebanon religion should not be involved in government at all.
08 January 2014, 16:09
15
Lets elect people based on their skills and qualifications not their religion ( religion is a personal choice not a national choice ) it has no place in running govrnments .
08 January 2014, 16:11
153
the facy
Good observation.
However he is far from being a saint. he is the opposite
08 January 2014, 16:13
43
watan libnan
I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately if you expect good governance don't hold your breath
08 January 2014, 16:23
15
Brother the more people realise these things the better apathy keeps guys like bwesir in power its time for the youth of lebanon who fear nothing to say we have had enough of pathetic governance we the people of lebanon own lebanon not these cronies its time to take our country back.
08 January 2014, 16:26
25
Our parents grew up in a time of intimidation from power hungry crooks but as the old saying goes theres nothing to fear except fear it self people should put aside their differences and say we are lebanese and we want our country back and not back down till its accomplished .
08 January 2014, 16:50
25
No way brother not Geagea or Aoun or Gemayel . ask yourself seriously what benefit are we gaining with all these guys even Saad Hariri . I'm not for any of these parties just please tell me how are you and i benefiting from these criminals in power none at all its all about them not us the lebanese
08 January 2014, 22:10
73
LOL even if one proves you wrong you always say the evidence is fabricated ! LOL
what a hypocrit worm....
09 January 2014, 12:16
52
yesterday... when i gave you evidence that syria trained islamists groups... you fled like a coward and never answered back....
LOL LOLLITY LOL
seems you fled to the village of the idiots! wahahaha!
08 January 2014, 17:07
25
Your Politicians are worthless. Another 3 months will cost hundreds of millions in the long run. The Leviathan Oil and Gas Formation is huge. Most of it lies off Syria, Lebanon and Gaza but guess who is already moving to extract the reserves while you do nothing. Saudi Arabia is not a partner here . They don't want you to develop your reserves and gain financial freedom. Really you people need to wake up. How stupid are you? Bassil is trying to do the right thing. Those who are obstructing are working for Israel and Saudi Arabia and not Lebanon. Wake up Fools. This is not a sectarian issue, it is National and International.
08 January 2014, 17:17
137
Please name one achievement if there are any how and where is he successful are you his cheer squad he is only there to line his pockets what has he done for you and me "nothing"
08 January 2014, 18:43
89
What he did to the telecom ministry? He slashed the price of the mobile phone call by more than half. He changed the cell price from being the most expansive it he world to a more respectful cost. Its still expansive but it's alot cheaper than it was. At the same time, he increased the revenue the telecom ministry recieved, even though the hariri and jumblatt ministers for over 15 years did absolutely nothing but line the pockets of the political parties at the expense of the Lebanese.
He introduced adsl to Lebanon after it was apparently impossible as the telecommunication company that was in charge, Ogero,( that was ran by hariri company) refused to allow access to the adsl cable from Cyprus!
That was his telecom ministry that was interupted by parliament boycotts etc! Can u imagin what he could do without all the sectarian crap?
U can hate him because he is fpm or becoz he is aoun's son in law... But he is educated and productive. We need more like him.
08 January 2014, 22:29
65
telecom ministry?
now when u go 2 lebanon, ur foreign phone has 2 be registered. 4 security reasons, but the terroristas have a parrallel network!!!! they don't need 2 register anywhere.
slashing prices? means slashing the national income. the country's GDP is at an all time low.... slashing was not appropriate.
08 January 2014, 18:44
85
So i take it there no achievements and you avoid the question by insulting no wonder our country is up the creek you ignorant peasant.
08 January 2014, 18:54
86
Last time i checked mobile cell call prices were halved all over the world so what bwseir takes credit for that as well, come on get real you want to live in a third world environment , why don't we do an audit on this guys wealth from when he started you might be surprised ?
08 January 2014, 18:58
87
Why don't we check the books of the financial ministry when Aoun was in power and how much he stole and all the special payments made to him while hiding in france.
08 January 2014, 18:59
105
A lot of people on this site have short memories or choose not to look into the past of their favorite crooks
08 January 2014, 19:07
86
The Oil tenders will be given under the eyes of a legitimate government... Bassil you really want the lebanese to give you the key to the cooky jar when Mommy and Daddy are not at home...
You Thief!!!
08 January 2014, 19:12
86
Be very careful Lebcan there's a lot of bwesir's cheer squad on this site , how they benefit from his thefts i don't know or may be the truth hurts?
08 January 2014, 23:20
35
@watan libnan
I totally agree with what you said above. As for Bassil lowering cell phn prices. it was not by much really. In the US I pay $40.00/month all calls are free across America, plus unlimited internet use and unlimited text messages. Here I am paying $40.00 just for the privilege of owning a number then I get charged for each calls
09 January 2014, 00:36
45
Obviously F.T you don't about lebanon you only care about these pack thieves highjacking our country and bleeding it dry why the hell aren't we having elections has that right been stolen as well last time i check lebanon was a democracy or don't you like that as well i don't want no guy in a turban and beard and hides in the sewer running my country pal .
10 January 2014, 15:04
00
You see, even in Lebanon miracles can happen.
Get your peace with Israel, and you'll only benefit from the results.
