Today’s cabinet session (27/12), the last in 2012, has been announced with much fanfare, several days in advance, by government officials. Local media described the news as “a holiday gift”, quoting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri or Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, both of whom described it as such.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by President Michel Slaiman, launched the first licensing round for offshore oil and gas exploration. Companies wishing to participate in offshore drilling can start applying for the qualifying round on 01/02.