Qatari state-owned QatarEnergies yesterday entered into a consortium licensed to explore Lebanese offshore oil and gas blocks. QatarEnergies took on a 30 percent stake in the consortium Russian Novatek exited last year, partnering with French TotalEnergies and Italian Eni to drill blocks 9 and 4 of the Lebanese Exclusive Economic Zone. Energy expert Naji Abi Aad told AFP that Qatari foreign relations could contribute “a political guarantee" to the oil and gas exploration. At the signing ceremony, TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné reported “disappointing” results from Block 4 after the conclusion of indirect maritime border negotiations with Israel last October sparked hopes of an oil boom for Lebanon at the start of a fourth year of economic crisis.