Lebanon will close its first offshore licensing round for offshore gas exploration blocks in four months, according to the new Energy and Water Minister Arthur Nazarian. Lebanon has delayed its licensing round several times due to the inability of the caretaker government to issue two essential decrees, one delineating the offshore blocks and the second approving the model exploration and sharing agreement. Lebanon was operating without a government since the resignation of former Prime Minister Najib Mikati in March 2013 until a new government was formed in February 2014 breaking a 10 months deadlock.