Berri Meets Miqati, Says Delay in Oil Exploration Might Lead to Debriefing Cabinet
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri held closed-door talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday after a meeting of the joint parliamentary committees.
Earlier, Berri headed the meeting to discuss the oil exploration project.
The purpose behind holding a meeting for the parliamentary committees is to inquire the cabinet about Lebanon’s offshore oil wealth project, he told As Safir newspaper on Monday.
“The cabinet will be questioned about the release of decrees (concerning the oil exploration) and other related measures,” he said.
He stressed that it is “not acceptable” to delay the practical steps regarding this file.
The speaker warned that if he wasn’t convinced by the answers provided by the cabinet, he will support any MP who would want to call into task the cabinet even if he wanted to debrief it.
On his part, Energy Minister Jebran Bassil told the daily if the meeting of the parliamentary committees is to urge the cabinet to respect the timeframe decided to implement the offshore resources project, “then it’s useful.”
He noted that the Energy Ministry completed its part in preparing the necessary data, information along with the rules and regulations for the petroleum activities.
Bassil noted that the tender might start at the beginning of 2012 if the cabinet acted responsibly towards this issue.
The cabinet approved in September the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.
A dispute had sparked between Lebanon and Israel over the maritime border after the discovery of potential offshore energy reserves.
The Israeli cabinet in July approved a map and submitted it to the U.N., which has been asked to mediate the growing conflict.
The Israeli map conflicts with Lebanon's proposed borders, which give the Jewish state less territorial waters and was submitted to the U.N. last year.
Beirut argues its map is in line with an armistice accord drawn up in 1949, an agreement which is not contested by Israel.
Israel has for months been moving to develop several large offshore natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, some of which are shared with Cyprus.
However, the cabinet has warned that Beirut will not give up its maritime rights and accuses Israel of violating Lebanese waters, territory and airspace.
17 October 2011, 12:37
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one might or might not agree, but that's really not important in politics.
17 October 2011, 13:45
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This former used card dealer just returned from a trip to Tehran. The religious cavemen there must have ordered him to raise the gas drilling issue to the top of his priorities in order to look for a fight with Israel because things have been too quiet, and Hassan seems to be enjoying his rathole.
Lebanon is a long way from making any money from gas drilling - money which Berri would skim a good chunk of for his own pockets. But Lebanon has tons of water running down its hills and flooding the streets every time it rains. A couple of well-built dams and Lebanon could be selling electricity to others without oil, gas, and pollution. Fossil fuels are already a technology on its way out, and renewable energy is the way to go. Lebanon has tons of water and tons of sunshine..... Problem is the politicians are not interested in renewables because there is no money to steal.
Ushtum wa Aasha Lubnan
17 October 2011, 14:44
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Someone here is suggesting that lebanon ruling majority should drill it's own gas and oil because berri was in tehran and he received orders to do so.
they also suggest that lebanon ruling majority wants to drill it's gas and oil because it looks for war with genocidal zionist entity.
this part looks like typical halucinatory zionist infomation war department.
and than goes the essay about renewable sources, which is a great idea by itself. The only problem is that some people think that renewable sources can totaly replace oil and gas, while it cannot, not yet. One day, hopefully...but not yet.
17 October 2011, 19:19
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What is the delay........ and why delaying any more and any longer.
Are they waiting for a kickback or Bassil Petroleum Company ( BPC )
or what
Just define strategies, define transparency regulations and start the bids and the work.....
Stop Yakking through the Media.....get back to work
To others who make comments: Be POLITE
17 October 2011, 23:00
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He is in such a rush to start drilling so he can scam millions of dollars before his days are over. He will scam so much money that he ever did in his life time. Plus i want to mention there are hundereds of lebanese immigrants that work in the oil fields all over the world, why they do not they hire them? they have to get Iran involved
