If the launching of Lebanon’s first offshore licensing round back in early 2013 was the dawn of the industry in the country, then only now is civil society groggily awaking to its oversight role in the emerging oil and gas sector.
This industry is operated by some of the largest, richest and most influential multinationals in the world — companies with the knowledge, means and depth of experience to get what they want when entering new markets. The sector’s intricate complexities and steep learning curve further add to the challenges facing Lebanon’s civil society, which continues to fall behind as the government struggles to articulate how and when it will engage with local nongovernmental organizations.