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the new government Infrastructure currently feel differently, Scargill serving as the chief says, while others still executive of? cer of argue that rolling the Israel’s Eco Energy. He blocks out in stages will was also chief econo- encourage more competi- mist in the Economic tive bidding and higher Planning Authority

Mediterranean revenues. of Israel’s Ministry of

Oil and gas companies Economic Planning. are becoming more edu- “The disputed area is cated in how to operate very small, absolutely, in frontier countries; [in relation] to other con- however, Lebanon does ? icts, such as the con- not offer a level playing ? icts over much of the ? eld. “IOCs are used to eastern Mediterranean operation in politically … or other con? icts in unstable countries, but the world,” he said. “It the political challenge in is for the bene? t of the

Lebanon is not like other parties, especially of countries such as Nigeria the Lebanese, that the or Iraq, where a united dispute will be resolved government is facing to enable oil and gas a strong opposition or exploration. I also hope other political organiza- that the Lebanese will tions. In Lebanon, the discover oil and gas government itself is not for the bene? t of their united, and it has been people.” always a tough task to While Nazarian reach political consen- insisted to Reuters in his sus to form a govern- 7 April interview that ment, particularly the companies are interested

Energy Ministry, which in the blocks, calling will be in the midst it “only a minor area,” of political con? icts,” Wachtel says that it is yet

GlobalData noted in its another hurdle for the whitepaper, Political government to contend and Exploratory Risk with. “Maritime border

Balance Anticipation for disputes effectively

Lebanon’s Initial Bidding render those parts of the

Round. blocks in the disputed

Map of the Lebanese o