Bassil stresses persistence of work in oil sector "even within a caretaker cabinet"

Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil declared on Thursday the names of the eligible companies that will participate in the first cycle of licensing for the exploration for oil and gas. The companies were listed as follows: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Exxon Mobil, Statoil, Shell, Repsol, Total, Petronas, Chevron, Eni International, and Petrobras among others.               

During a press conference, caretaker Minister Bassil stressed that the work in the oil sector will continue even if a cabinet has not yet been formed, noting that the license applications will be accepted as of the second of May.         

However, Bassil confirmed the existence of many border disputes, stressing on the other hand, that the extraction operations will be carried out without committing any infringements against any party.               

Bassil revealed that the pending issues pertaining to the maritime block divisions, exploration and production agreements and the book of conditions have been finalized.