DOHA (Reuters) – QatarEnergy is in discussions with the Lebanese government to take a 30% stake in an offshore gas exploration block and is in parallel negotiations on the subject with the French groups TotalEnergies and Italian Eni, the chief executive confirmed on Sunday. of the Qatari public energy company, Saad al Kaabi.
Two sources told Reuters this week that TotalEnergies and the Lebanese government had reached an agreement under which the French group would temporarily take control of the bloc, paving the way for negotiations with Qatar.
“We are in the process of discussing this with the government of Lebanon and partners Total and Eni for a stake of around 30% in this exploration block,” Saad al Kaabi said.
“In due time, when we have finalized and signed the agreement, we will announce it,” he added.
The first exploration license was held by a consortium made up of TotalEnergies, Eni and Russia’s Novatek. Beirut announced in September the departure of Novatek, which held a 20% share.
Lebanon issued a decision dated October 21, a copy of which Reuters was able to consult on Wednesday, by which it attributes the stake held by Novatek to the company Daja 216 and transfers the 40% stake of TotalEnergies to the company Daja 215 .
Both sources told Reuters said Daja 215 and Daja 216 were TotalEnergies vehicles.
They explained that under the terms of the agreement, the French group was to enter into negotiations with QatarEnergy regarding the stake previously held by Novatek and that Qatar would like to take a 30% stake made up of Novatek’s 20%, 5% held by TotalEnergies and 5% held by Eni.
(Report Andrew Mills, French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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