The story: QatarEnergy has agreed to explore Lebanon’s territorial waters for oil and natural gas deposits as part of a consortium with France’s TotalEnergies and Italy’s ENI. The state-owned energy giant will control 30% of the joint venture under the deal, effectively replacing a Russian company. The Qatari foray into the Levant comes as Doha is reportedly also considering investing in TotalEnergies’ 27B USD agreement on energy projects in Iraq. 

The coverage: Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Jan. 29 that Doha has become a partner in the exploration of two offshore areas near Lebanon’s coast. 

• Under the agreement, QatarEnergy will own a 30% stake of “blocks 4 and 9, which represents Qatar’s first exploration activity in Lebanon.” 
  
  
• Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi noted that the deal will support Lebanon’s economic development and that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has guaranteed that “Qatar is always present to support...