Lebanon’s gas hopes threatened by corruption

Energy sector legislation may not prevent corruption marring any future gas discoveries, a new book says

Lebanon will take important steps in the coming months which will ultimately determine if it is to join the ranks of East Mediterranean countries with offshore gas reserves.  A consortium of Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek is expected to start drilling in the country’s Block 9 concession by mid-2020. And 31 January next year is the bid closing date for five more offshore blocks (1,2, 5, 8 and 10).  All looks set fair. Given Lebanon’s current economic problems—and the angry public reaction to government efforts to solve them—the discovery of gas would surely provide an enormous boost for the country’s coffers. Or would it?  Only a few pages into The Future of Petroleum in Lebanon: Ene