Beirut - (AFP) - Qatar joined on Sunday, during an official ceremony in Beirut, as a partner to the French companies Total Energy and the Italian Eni in the framework of a consortium to explore for oil and gas in the Lebanese maritime border waters with Israel.

After two years of US mediation, Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement in October to demarcate the maritime borders between them, which they unanimously described as "historic", and would allow the two countries to explore for gas and oil in the disputed area from their territorial waters.

And the Lebanese government presidency stated, in a statement that followed a ceremony held at the Grand Serail in Beirut, about "the signing of the amending annexes to the exploration and production agreements in blocks 4 and 9, on the occasion of the entry of Qatar Energy as a partner with the French company Total Energy and the Italian company Eni."

The move came months after the Russian company Novatek announced its withdrawal from the coalition that was formed in 2018.

Thus, Qatar Energy Company became a partner in the consortium of companies that owns the petroleum rights in Blocks 4 and 9 in the Lebanese offshore waters, and holds 30 percent, compared to 35 percent for the French company and 35 percent for the Italian company.

Block No. 9, where the Qana field is partly located outside the territorial waters, will constitute a major area for exploration to be carried out by the three companies.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said during the signing ceremony, "The consortium of these internationally renowned companies enhances investment confidence in Lebanon, despite the difficult circumstances it is going through, and puts Lebanon in the future on the oil map in the Levantine basin of the Mediterranean."

Caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad on the Lebanese side, State Minister for Energy Affairs of Qatar and CEO of Qatar Energy Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi on the Qatari side, Executive Director of Total Group Patrick Pouyanne on behalf of the French company and CEO of Eni Claudio Descalzi on behalf of the Italian company signed the agreement. In the presence of the ambassadors of Qatar, France and Italy.

Fayyad hoped that the signing would constitute "the beginning of a new phase that contributes to consolidating Lebanon's position on the oil map in the region, enhances its role as an investment destination, and opens a window of hope for the next phase."

Since the fall of 2019, Lebanon has witnessed an unprecedented economic collapse, with which the ability of state utilities to secure basic services, especially electricity, has declined. The collapse is exacerbated by political stalemate, which is reflected in constitutional and judicial paralysis.

Energy expert Naji Abi Aad told AFP that "Qatar's accession to the coalition has political implications, especially" in the midst of the protracted economic crisis.