French oil major TotalEnergies has obtained government permission for a new exploration permit offshore Lebanon, it said on Friday.
TotalEnergies, which owns a 35 per cent operating stake in the permit, will begin 3D seismic surveys on Block 8 with partners Eni (35 per cent) and QatarEnergy (30 per cent).
The French company moved to hunt for natural gas in Lebanon in late 2022, following the government's landmark agreement of a maritime border with Israel in the Mediterranean Sea. However, an initial exploration campaign on an adjacent block was disappointing.
"Although the drilling of the well Qana 31/1 on Block 9 did not give positive results, we remained committed to pursue our exploration activities in Lebanon," TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said in a statement.
Initial work on Block 8 will survey exploration potential across 1,200 square kilometres (463 square miles).
(Reporting by America Hernandez in Paris; Editing by Mark Potter)