French energy company TotalEnergies, together with partners Eni of Italy and QatarEnergy, has signed an agreement with the Lebanese government to enter Block 8, located adjacent to the Israeli-Lebanese maritime boundary.

TotalEnergies will operate the block with a 35% stake, Eni will hold 35%, and QatarEnergy will take 30%. The consortium plans to start its initial work program with a 1,200 km² 3D seismic survey to evaluate the area’s hydrocarbon potential. Block 8 lies about 70 kilometers off Lebanon’s southern coast, in water depths ranging from 1,700 to 2,100 meters.

The move follows the company’s earlier exploration in Block 9, where drilling of the Qana well did not yield commercially viable results. Despite this, TotalEnergies reaffirmed its commitment to continue exploration in Lebanese waters.

Block 9 was previously the subject of a U.S.-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which ensured no domestic company from either country would hold rights to the block. The treaty also outlines collaboration mechanisms for any drilling activity south of the maritime boundary line, emphasizing the use of reputable international firms free from sanctions.

TotalEnergies and its partners have been expanding their presence in the region since 2022. QatarEnergy acquired a 30% stake in Block 9 in early 2023, replacing Russia’s PAO NOVATEK. The new agreement for Block 8 represents a continued effort to explore offshore hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.