French Mandate legislates petroleum exploration in Lebanon

Lebanon’s Council of Minister’s passes its petroleum policy drafted with assistance for the Norwegians. The legislation was endorsed by the Parliament in August 2010.

Parliament passes Offshore Petroleum Resources Law # 132/2010.

Lebanon’s Parliament adopts Law No. 163 on the Delineation and Declaration of the Maritime Zones of the Republic of Lebanon (Official Gazette N° 39, 25 August 2011). As part of this law, in October 2011 Cabinet decree 6433 demarcates Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Lebanon’s Council of Ministers ratifies Offshore Petroleum Resources Law # 132/2010.

Board of Lebanese Petroleum Administration formed after months of debate and missed deadlines.

Council of Ministers approves Petroleum Activities Regulations (PAR) – a collection of application decrees filling out the offshore petroleum resources law.

On January 4th, 2016 Lebanon’s new government passed two needed decrees that had delayed development of an offshore oil and gas sector since 2013. Without the decrees, one pertaining to block delineation and the other to the Tender Protocol and Exploration and Production Agreement (EPA), international oil companies cannot bid for rights to explore for oil and gas in Lebanese waters.

On September 6th, 2018 the following joint parliamentary committees were present during a joint parliamentary meeting and approved the draft law. 

- Committee of Finance and Budget 

- Committee for National Defense, Interior and Municipalities 

- Committee for National Economy, Trade, Industry and Planning 

- Committee for Agriculture and Justice 

- Committee for Public Works, Transport, Energy and Water

- Committee for administration and justice.

Parliament holds a general assembly and ratifies the law "Whistle Blower Protection Law" (Law 83/2018)

Parliament holds a general assembly and ratifies the law "Strengthening transparency in the petroleum sector" (Law 84/2018). Law is accessible here.