Lebanon's energy ministry launched the nation's third oil & gas exploration licensing round on 27 December 2023, inviting bids for nine available blocks. The offered blocks include unlicensed areas within Lebanon's maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ), namely blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. Of the nine blocks currently on offer, blocks 3, 6 and 7 are newly offered acreage, while the other six have been included in the previous rounds. Blocks 8 and 10 received bids in the Second Offshore Licensing Round, from the consortium involving TotalEnergies, Eni and QatarEnergy, which are currently under evaluation. 

During the First Offshore Licensing Round in 2017, Block 9 in the same region was awarded to the consortium comprising TotalEnergies, Eni, and Novatek. Additionally, Block 4 was part of the consortium's acquisition during the same round but was relinquished in October 2022. Novatek left the consortium in late 2022 and QatarEnergy took over a 30% stake in early 2023. The deadline to place bids is 2 July 2024.

KeyFacts Energy: Licensing news