However Lebanon’s politicians resolve the logjam over longoverdue appointments to the government bureaucracy, the entire frustrating process will have been more than worth it if it teaches a single lesson: Don’t let similar bouts of bickering in the future strangle this country’s budding energy sector. There is increasing evidence that the seafloor off Lebanon’s coast holds almost unimaginable riches in the form of vast oil and gas deposits. If properly managed, this resource could easily meet the energy needs of all Lebanese, from the smallest household to the largest manufacturer – and still leave plenty left over for lucrative exports.