In a ceremony organized by the Energy Ministry, Lebanon signed its first offshore oil and gas exploration and production agreements for two blocks, including a block disputed by Israel.
A consortium of France's Total, Italy's Eni and Russia's Novatek signed the agreements for the two blocks, which are among five that Lebanon put up for tender in the country's much-delayed first licensing round.
Lebanon's energy minister said the dispute with Israel would not stop Lebanon benefiting from potential undersea reserves in the contentious Block 9, while consortium operator Total said it would not drill the block's first well near the disputed zone.
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