Caretaker Minister Bassil launches land survey works

Caretaker Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil launched on Saturday the land survey works for oil and gas in the Batroun district with the collaboration of Spectrum company.

In this regard, Caretaker Minister Bassil voiced his hopes that land exploration works would kick off next year.

Interest in drilling in the eastern Mediterranean has grown since two natural gas fields were discovered off Lebanon's shores.

Delegates at an oil and gas conference in Beirut in December said Lebanese waters could contain between 30 trillion and 40 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said in September that one southern bloc alone could hold 12 trillion cubic feet and this was enough gas to produce electricity for Lebanon for 99 years.

Lebanon hopes that gas discoveries could help address its government debt and chronic domestic power shortages, but repeated delays mean it is already several years behind in exploring those potential reserves.