Supply vessel docks at Beirut port as Lebanon prepares for offshore drilling

The Lundstrom Tide, which has been hired by the French oil and gas company Total, arrived ahead of the Tungsten Explorer drill ship, which is expected on 15 February.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

05 February, 2020

Lebanon hopes the discovery of gas off its shores will boost its economy [Getty]

A supply vessel docked on Beirut's port on Wednesday, local media reported, as Lebanon prepares to begin offshore drilling and oil and gas exploration.

The Lundstrom Tide, which has been hired by the French oil and gas company Total, arrived ahead of the Tungsten Explorer drill ship, which is expected on 15 February.

In February 2018, Lebanon signed its first contract to drill for oil and gas in its waters.

A consortium compromising of energy giants Total, ENI and Novatek took the first two of its 10 blocks, including one disputed by Israel - a country that Beirut has no official diplomatic ties with.

Drilling at block 4 had initially been scheduled for December 2019, according to Energy Minister Nada Boustani. But Lebanon has been gripped by political turmoil and mass protests over a wide-reaching recession and a spiralling financial crunch.

The country is pinning its hopes on the discovery of gas off its shores to boost its economy and improve its future credit ratings.

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