(Photo: AP) Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri. (Photo: AP)Lebanon’s energy minister vowed Thursday that Beirut will go ahead with oil and gas exploration near its maritime border with Israel, despite Israeli claims to the field that provoked wide condemnation in the tiny Arab country. The licenses will allow Italy’s Eni, France’s Total and Russia’s Novatek, who bid for two of Lebanon’s 10 offshore blocks, to determine whether oil and gas exist. “We consider this statement as an aggression on Lebanon’s sovereignty to practice its natural right to explore our oil resources,” Abi Khalil said in his office. “We will use all available means to protect our rights in our Lebanese waters,” Abi Khalil said.

Source: Indian Express February 01, 2018 23:37 UTC