Page 8 - MEOG Week 44

MEOG POLICY MEOG

Maritime talks founder as

Lebanon claims Israeli fields

EAST MED THE first round of United Nations-observed adopting a “maximalist stance” in the talks, while
talks between Israel and Lebanon ended last Israeli news outlet Al-Jadeed station said that the
week in tension, with the latter demanding that talks were serious and “very heated”, noting that
a much larger area be considered as part of the the parties had “fundamental disputes on the
talks. starting point” for negotiations.
The talks were originally meant to cover a A joint statement from the US and the United
854-square km triangle of disputed territory, Nations said: “Representatives from the govern-
but Lebanese negotiators said that an additional ments of Israel and Lebanon held productive
1,460-square km area further south, that had talks mediated by the United States and hosted
previously been undisputed, must be included by the Office of the United Nations Special Coor-
in negotiations. This area includes Israel’s Kar- dinator for Lebanon … The parties committed to
ish gas field and Block 72, for which a bid round continue negotiations next month.”
was launched in June. London-listed Ener- The talks took place at the United Nations
gean, which operates Karish, has estimated the Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) HQ in
field contains 267mn barrels of oil equivalent Naqoura, where they are expected to resume on
of 2P reserves as well as another 37mn boe of November 11.
2C resources, while the nearby Karish North A consortium of Total (40%, operator), Eni
asset has been certified as comprising gross 2C (40%) and Russia’s Novatek (20%) was awarded
resources of 1.2 trillion cubic feet (33.7bn cubic Blocks 4 and 9 in February 2018. The latter lies in
metres) of gas and 39mn barrels of liquids, the disputed area and the potential for explora-
according to a competent person’s report (CPR) tory drilling there has been the cause of increased
by DeGolyer & McNaughton. friction between Beirut and Jerusalem.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the com- The consortium completed its first Block 4
mander of Lebanese Armed Forces, General well in early 2020 but reported that no commer-
Joseph Aoun, had made the demand regarding cial discovery had been made.
the larger area, noting that the maritime borders Around 7-9% of Block 9 overlaps with the
must match the original borders drawn between original 854-square km disputed area. Total pre-
imperial Britain and France. viously said that it would seek to drill as far from
Lebanese media reported that Beirut was the offending area as possible.™

Map showing the area
increased area Lebanon
has proposed to Israel.

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 44 04•November•2020