TotalEnergies (35% op) and its partners Eni (35%) and QatarEnergy (30%) were officially awarded an exploration permit for Lebanon’s Block 8 on 9 January, signing a deal with Beirut after the country’s cabinet had approved the award in October last year (MEES, 24 October 2025). Initial work consists of the acquisition of a 1,200 km² 3D seismic survey.
The same consortium holds Block 9 to the east, where the Qana flop was drilled in October 2023 (MEES, 20 October 2023). Patrick Pouyanné, TotalEnergies’ CEO says efforts are now focused on Block 8, which lies on the Israeli and Cypriot maritime borders (MEES, 31 October 2025). (CONTINUED - 92 WORDS)