The remaining eight oil and gas exploration offshore blocks are ready for bidding and the second licensing round has been extended to June 30, 2023, said Walid Fayad, caretaker Minister of Energy and Water.

Fayad said that exploratory drilling in offshore Block 9 is expected to start in the fourth quarter of the current year. QatarEnergy has recently joined the exploration consortium and this will enhance exploration activities in this block, he said. The consortium, which includes France-based TotalEnergies and Italy’s Eni, has been commissioned to carry out exploration work in Blocks 4 and 9.

Each of TotalEnergies and Eni holds a 35 percent interest in the blocks. The remaining 30 percent was acquired by QatarEnergy. It consists of a 20 percent stake that was held by Russia's Novatek, which had exited the consortium, and two five-percent shares, one from Total and the other from Eni.