As Lebanon’s first offshore oil and gas exploration phase nears its contractual conclusion in May 2025, attention is squarely focused on TotalEnergies and its delayed technical report on drilling results from Block 9's Qana field. 

The French energy giant, which leads a consortium that includes Italy’s Eni and Qatar’s QatarEnergy, has yet to deliver the much-anticipated report detailing the results of a 47-day drilling operation that began in August 2023 and ended in October the same year. The company previously informed Lebanese officials, just four days after the outbreak of Hamas's “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation in Gaza on October 7, that it had found no commercially viable gas in Block 9. However, despite repeated formal and political appeals, the technical report explaining these findings remains undelivered.

On March 27, 2024, Lebanon’s Ministry of Energy issued a formal request to TotalEnergies, demanding the report by mid-April. The request came after the six-month deadline to submit the report had expired and amid continued assurances from the consortium that it would comply.

Even Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun raised the matter in February during a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressing hope that the report would soon be submitted. Yet, with the first exploration phase nearly over, TotalEnergies has still not released the document.

That could change imminently.

Speaking to Nidaa Al-Watan, Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi confirmed that the report is expected "within weeks, roughly two weeks from now."

“I met with the general managers of the three consortium companies—TotalEnergies, Eni, and QatarEnergy—and they pledged to deliver the report in the coming weeks. The report will detail the drilling results, and we will determine our next steps based on its findings. We are already discussing potential next steps with the consortium in anticipation of the report," Saddi said.

The future of Lebanon’s offshore ambitions hinges not only on the long-delayed report but also on whether the consortium intends to move into the second exploration phase, set to begin immediately after the first ends.

“Under the contract signed between the Lebanese state and the consortium, the first exploration phase in Block 9 ends in May 2025, with the second phase set to begin immediately and last for two years,” said Lama Hariz, a lawyer and expert in energy law and governance, told Nidaa Al-Watan. “TotalEnergies must therefore inform the Lebanese government whether it intends to proceed with further exploration and present a new drilling plan, or not.”

While the consortium has not publicly indicated a desire to abandon Block 9, Hariz noted that TotalEnergies appears to be tying its commitment to continued operations in Block 9 with guarantees related to Block 8, another offshore block with untapped potential.

“Parts of Block 8 have yet to undergo any seismic scanning, a prerequisite for drilling,” she explained.

She anticipates that an agreement regarding Block 8 could materialize by late June or July, following necessary seismic surveys.

“In this way, Total can signal its intention to exit Block 9 without fully abandoning Lebanon’s gas wealth, simply by redirecting focus to Block 8,” Hariz said.

The reasons behind TotalEnergies’ failure to submit the technical report remain speculative.

“There is no scientific or technical reason for the delay. It is purely political,” Hariz asserted. “Unfortunately, it is common for politics to interfere in the handling of natural resources. Hopefully, within the next two months, the consortium will clarify whether it intends to abandon Block 9 in favor of pursuing gas exploration in Block 8.”

Some analysts believe the consortium has already internally decided to continue exploration but is delaying a formal announcement until geological analyses are complete or until regional political conditions become clearer. Others suspect the delay may indicate hesitation, or even a soft withdrawal, especially after initial drilling returned disappointing results. A formal declaration of failure, they argue, could prompt unwanted media or political fallout.

The missing report is also seen as a stumbling block to future progress. Without it, assessments of other blocks remain speculative, and preparations for Lebanon’s next licensing round, particularly in Block 8, could be undermined, discouraging potential investors.

Middle East and North Africa oil and gas expert Laury Haytayan outlined two critical upcoming decisions for Lebanon:

1. TotalEnergies must formally notify the Lebanese government whether it intends to proceed with the second phase of exploration or relinquish Block 9.

2. Lebanon’s next licensing round for companies interested in offshore exploration remains open until November 2025.

Lebanon’s offshore domain is divided into ten blocks. In 2018, it signed a contract with the consortium, then composed of TotalEnergies, Eni, and Russia’s Novatek, for exploration in Block 9. Novatek withdrew from the agreement in 2022, and its 30% share was subsequently transferred to QatarEnergy. Under the terms of the contract, all exploration and drilling expenses are covered by the consortium.

Should commercial quantities be discovered, revenues would be divided approximately as follows: 63% for the Lebanese state and 37–43% for the consortium, proportionally shared among the three partners.

Drilling in Block 9 reached a depth of 3,900 meters below sea level—450 meters short of the contractually agreed depth—after the drill encountered water instead of gas-bearing strata. Since the operation was halted in October 2023, the consortium has continued analyzing data and samples to determine whether further drilling is warranted.

According to Haytayan, Lebanon cannot afford to operate on a one-well-at-a-time basis.

“Lebanon needs a faster pace of work and cannot rely on single-well drilling operations,” she said. “A dynamic effort involving multiple companies simultaneously is essential to accelerate progress.”

She emphasized that exploration, drilling, and production typically span seven years—provided viable resources are found.

“We cannot pin all our hopes on oil and gas revenues to revive Lebanon’s economy. Over the next seven years, while waiting for potential returns, Lebanon must implement reforms and attract investments across various sectors.”

Haytayan warned that Israel, bolstered by its gas production capabilities, is poised to consolidate its influence in the region. Meanwhile, the lifting of sanctions on Syria could open that country’s energy sector to investors, potentially drawing attention away from Lebanon.

Given these challenges, Haytayan urged the Lebanese government to pursue partnerships with small- and medium-sized energy firms that may find offshore Lebanon attractive.

“Companies like Eni may show greater interest than TotalEnergies in exploration and drilling in Lebanese waters, especially since Eni has had more success in the Eastern Mediterranean,” she said.