Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, visited Paris last week, where he held discussions with top executives from leading French energy companies.
Saddi met with Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, during his visit to discuss ongoing gas exploration efforts in Lebanon. The meeting focused on the company’s role in the country’s offshore energy sector and potential future developments.
The minister also held talks with Béatrice Buffon, Chairwoman and Executive Director of Renewable Energy at Électricité de France (EDF), as well as the head of EDF’s international division. Their discussions centered on Lebanon’s electricity sector and ways the country could benefit from French expertise and capabilities in renewable energy and power management.
Lebanon earlier on 2025 granted a non-exclusive reconnaissance license to a US-Norwegian energy data and services provider to conduct a three-dimensional seismic survey in one of the country’s offshore maritime blocks; Ministry and LPA (lebanese Petroleum Administration) announced that Oslo-based TGS was granted a permit to survey an area of about 1,300 square km in Block 8, off southern Lebanon.
It is the only block out of 10 in total not to be included in the seismic surveys conducted between 2006 and 2013 due to its close location to Israel, with which Lebanon demarcated its maritime border in a US-brokered deal in 2022.
Lebanon had been unable to explore its southern offshore reserves for years due to an ongoing dispute with Israel over the boundaries of the countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Indirect negotiations between the two hostile countries have taken place over this.
Years-long political stalemate in Lebanon has also stopped the country exploiting its resources; but following the recent elections of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, there is renewed optimism in Lebanon’s oil and gas sector. The new administration is actively working to revitalize exploration and production activities, aiming to bolster the nation’s economy and energy independence.
