Lebanon's caretaker cabinet on Wednesday approved a decision to waive TotalEnergies' (TTEF.PA) 40% stake in a consortium to explore the country's maritime Bloc 9.

TotalEnergies was leading a consortium of three companies to explore two maritime blocs off the Lebanese coast for possible gas.

Russian firm Novatek, which had a 20% stake, pulled out in October and talks had been underway to find a replacement partner. In the interim, the 20% stake had gone to the Lebanese government.

Under the new arrangement spelled out in Wednesday's cabinet decision, TotalEnergies' share would go to firm DAJA 215 while the Lebanese state’s share would temporarily go to DAJA 216.

Caretaker energy minister Walid Fayyad said the decision was a "transition, during which we will negotiate the integration of an international operator".

Bloc 9 lies mostly in Lebanese waters but a segment lies south of the newly delineated border with Israel.