Disclosure of the Right Holder’s Assignments of their Participating Interests in the Exclusive Petroleum Rights in Blocks 4 and 9 to two qualified companies and the change of the Operator in Block 9
Pursuant to Articles 9 and 10 of Law no. 84/2018 (Enhancing Transparency in the Petroleum Sector) requiring the Lebanese Petroleum Administration the disclosure of any information regarding the award of Petroleum Licenses, the transfer of Petroleum Licenses, or the Assignment of Petroleum Licenses to qualified companies, in addition to the disclosure of the information and procedure regarding the registration in the Petroleum Register, particularly the disclosure of beneficial owner(s) of licensed petroleum companies, as well as information related to the identification and replacement of the Operator, and information concerning each assignment or transfer of Petroleum Rights according to Article 70 of Law no. 132/2010 (Offshore Petroleum Resources), the Petroleum Administration discloses the following:
• Firstly: The Forced Assignment of the previous Right Holder “Novatek Lebanon SAL” of its participating interests in the Exploration and Production Agreements.
Following the withdrawal of the former Right Holder Non-Operator “Novatek Lebanon SAL” from the Exploration and Production Agreements in Blocks 4 & 9 Offshore Lebanon, the Minister of Energy and Water exercised the Forced Assignment provisions stipulated in Article 36.2 of both Agreements, based on the Petroleum Administration’s recommendation no. 6/2022 in this regard, and that under the Minsters’ decisions no. 11 D/M dated 13/9/2022 and no.12 D/M dated 13/10/2022 (published on the Petroleum Administration’s Website).
Thus, the 20% (twenty percent) Participating Interests of the previous Right Holder (Novatek Lebanon SAL) in both agreements, have been transferred to the Lebanese State on 13/10/2022.
• Secondly: The Assignment of the Right Holder-Operator “TotalEnergies EP Liban SAL” to the French company “DAJA 215” (Simple Joint-Stock Company).
According to the provisions of Article 70 of Law no.132/2010 (OPRL), and according to the provisions of Article 34.2 of the Exploration and Production Agreement in Block 9, the Council of Ministers approved through an Exceptional Approval from the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister the Assignment of the Participating Interest (40%)of the Right Holder Operator “TotalEnergies EP Liban SAL” to the French Company “DAJA 215” (Simple Joint-Stock Company) which has acquired its qualification from the Lebanese Petroleum Administration.
The change of Operator in Block 9 Pursuant to the provisions of Article 20 of Law no.132/2010 (OPRL), was also approved, to become “DAJA 215” as the new Right Holder Operator in this Block following the aforementioned assignment by the previous Operator.
• Thirdly: The temporary Assignment from the Lebanese State, as a Right Holder Non-Operator of its participating Interests in the Exploration and Production Agreements in Blocks 4 and 9, to the French Company “DAJA 216” (Simple Joint-Stock Company).
According to the provisions of Article 70 of Law no.132/2010, and according to the provisions of Article 34.3 of the Exploration and Production Agreement in Blocks 4 and 9, The Council of Ministers approved through the Exceptional Approval the assignment of The Lebanese State’s participating Interests as a Right Holder Non-Operator in the Exploration and Production Agreements in Blocks 4 and 9 (twenty percent in each agreement) to the qualified company “DAJA 216” on a temporary basis, so that the company, and within three months of the Exceptional Approval, assigns these participating Interests to qualified oil and gas/energy company/companies as per the provisions of Article 70 of Law no.132/2010.
This ratification is conditioned on the fact that the two participating interests are due to the ownership of the Lebanese State in case “DAJA 216” did not assign its participating Interests, as mentioned above, to a qualified global company which its object to conduct Petroleum Activities, and that is within three months of the date of ratification of the assignment to the State.
In case “DAJA 216” charges any amounts from the ceding company/companies for this assignment or achieves benefits of all kinds through inter-agreements, these amounts must then be repaid and all the benefits reimbursed to the Lebanese State.
For the sole purpose of assignment, the Rights Holders in Block 9 are exempted from the obligations mentioned in Article 34.3(b) of the Exploration and Production Agreement in Block 9 since the Minimum Work Commitment for the first Exploration Period, which consists of drilling one exploration well, has not yet been fulfilled due to the previous situation on the border area.
• Fourthly: “DAJA 215” and “DAJA 216” are indirectly wholly owned by the initial Right Holder in Blocks 4 and 9 “TotalEnergies SE” (previously “Total SA” – refer to the Minster of Energy and Water decision no.2 D/M dated 14/10/2021, published in the Official Gazette and on the Petroleum Administration’s website).
Click here to download the Minister’s Decision No. 11/2022
Click here to download the Minister's Decision No. 12/2022
