Qabbani Says Oil Exploration Meetings Set to Agree on Decrees

The head of the parliamentary public works and energy committee MP Mohammed Qabbani said he was informed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam that he would call for meetings to agree on two oil exploration decrees.

“There is an agreement on not having more delays in the oil file. There is a serious move” to resolve it, Qabbani told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published on Wednesday.

The lawmaker said that Salam informed him, the energy minister and the Petroleum Authority that he would call for the meeting of a subcommittee to agree on the decrees and refer them to the cabinet for approval.

The date of the meeting hasn't been set yet but the issue could move forward at the beginning of the New Year, said Qabbani.

“It's true that differences of opinion froze the file. But we are working on reaching an agreement on it,” he added.

Attempts to revive the file began earlier this month when Speaker Nabih Berri spearheaded a campaign to start oil exploration after accusing Israel of “stealing” Lebanon's offshore gas.

Last August, the government postponed for the fifth time the first round of licensing for gas exploration over a political dispute.

The disagreements were over the designation of blocks open for bidding and the terms of a draft exploration agreement.