Lebanon will ‍sign a ​gas exploration deal with a consortium ⁠comprising QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies and Italy's ⁠Eni in the ‌country's Block 8 offshore area, the ⁠Lebanese cabinet said on Thursday.

In 2023, Lebanon granted a licence ⁠to conduct ​seismic studies on Block 8 to Bright ‍Skies and GeoX.

Lebanon hopes ​gas and oil discoveries will help it to reverse a crippling economic crisis that has cost the local currency more than 98% of its value, ⁠eroded the country's foreign ‌reserves and caused rolling blackouts ‌across towns ⁠and cities.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam Editing ⁠by David Goodman)