Latest News from Jazira
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani sent a written message to HE Minister of Interior of the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt Major General Mahmoud Tawfik, pertaining to bilateral relations and means to bolster and develop them.
HE the State of Qatar's Ambassador to Egypt Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi delivered the message during a meeting with HE Egypt's Minister of Interior at the Ministry's headquarters.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met on Sunday in Tehran with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation ties between the two countries, and ways to develop them, especially in economic cooperation and trade exchange.
Also, the two sides touched on regional and international developments, particularly the developments of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Qatar Charity (QC) has completed the first phase of the housing project for internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the camps of Ain-Aara and in the other camps located in northwest Syria. The project aims to preserve the human dignity of the expected beneficiaries by improving their living conditions.
The project is funded by OCHA's Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF), and works on the construction of 250 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, replacing the tents with homes. The project also seeks to build 54 other housing units for IDPs families in other camps.
Besides, this project will build water and drainage infrastructure to ensure a better life for the beneficiaries, which will contribute to improving the situation in the targeted camps.
The residents of the Ain-Aara camp and other camps in northern Syria live in very problematic humanitarian conditions, especially in winter, when pedestrians are unable to move because of the mud caused by waterlogging.
"We came to this camp from more than 13 different villages,” said the director of Ain-Aara camp, Abu Mustafa. “We were displaced from our homes and found ourselves at the foot of this hazardous mountain occupied by snakes, scorpions, and stray animals,” added Abu Mustafa. He noted that the people suffer here under the scorching sun and in the blistering winter.
Furthermore, seven school tents were provided to replace the old ones, which were about to collapse.
The grounds of the new tents have been rehabilitated to make them suitable for the children. All school supplies have been provided to the students, in addition to equipping an administrative caravan next to the school. Qatar Charity is expected to deliver the housing units under this project during the third quarter of the current year.
It is worth mentioning that ‘Alamal City’, a housing project, is expected to be completed this year. This is a full-service residential city, the largest housing project for the IDPs in northern Syria, and one of the most important qualitative projects of Qatar Charity in the humanitarian field.
It aims to provide safe and sustainable homes for 1,400 displaced families, in addition to providing necessary social and service facilities for the people, especially in the fields of education, health, water, and sanitation. Some 13,800 Syrian IDPs are expected to benefit form the city and its facilities.
Source: Qatar Charity
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 11th race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Al Uqda Racecourse sand track on Saturday, 28th January. In the final contest of the seven-race card, Karakoul (IRE) (Fast Company x KaraLara) wrapped up a good day for Al Jeryan Stud, trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah and jockey Szczepan Mazur, completing a double for the trio when taking the day’s feature, the Wadi Al Sail Cup, a 1200m contest for 3-6YO for Thoroughbred Premium Maidens. The 4YO gelding impressively drew five and a half lengths clear. While the winning margin was quite wide, that battle for the minor honours was not easy at all as only a neck separated and the second and the third. The Mutaz Aissa Barsham-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained Burscough (GB) was the runner-up under jockey JP Guillambert and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Salman Al Thani-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Observing (IRE) finished third under jockey Marco Casamento.
QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners.
Al Mustashar
Opening the day, Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah’s Al Mustashar (QA) (Polperro x Granary) gave trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento one more winner this week as the 6YO won well and easily by a length and a quarter in the 1300m Maiden for 3-6YO Local Thoroughbreds.
Almirgab
The 2000m Handicap (0-85) for 3YO Thoroughbreds saw a win by the same margin (1¼ lengths), but this time it was Khalifa Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah’s Almirgab (FR) (Starspangledbanner x Katelyns Kiss), who, under jockey Hugo Besnier, did all his best work in the closing stages to win the second race in the card for trainer Hamad Al Jehani.
AJS Anayid
The winning margin got much narrow in the third race, the 1300m Maiden for 4YO Purebred Arabians, with jockey Szczepan Mazur guiding Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Anayid (BE) (AF AlBahar x Anayid) to success for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah as she took the race by a head from Ghazwah (FR) (Burning Sand).
Cotai Pearl
Trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento made it a double on the day in the 1300m Novice for 3YO+ Thoroughbred Fillies and Mares as they teamed up with Injaaz Stud’s Cotai Pearl (IRE) (Cotai Glory x Clef) to shoot clear and win the fourth race by three lengths.
Neat And Dandy
The 1300m Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds was taken by Wathnan Racing’s Neat And Dandy (IRE) (Dandy Man x Isabella Vite), trained by Alban de Mieulle. The 4YO gelding skipped away from the field under Ronan Thomas to record victory by a length and three quarters in the day’s fifth race.
Mubadir
In the 1300m Handicap (75-95) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, trainer Jihad El Ahmad teamed up with jockey Soufiane Saadi to good effect as Injaaz Stud’s Mubadir (QA) (Majd Al Arab x Al Mubdiaa) produced a smart turn of foot to clear away from the field and win the penultimate race of the day in fine style by one and a half lengths.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club
DOHA, Qatar- Qatar Energy entered into agreements with the Government of Lebanon, TotalEnergies and Eni to become a partner in two exploration blocks offshore the Republic of Lebanon.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreements signed in Beirut today, QatarEnergy will hold a 30% working interest in the Exploration and Production Agreements pertaining to Blocks 4 and 9, marking QatarEnergy’s first exploration endeavor in Lebanon. TotalEnergies (the operator) and Eni will each hold a 35% interest.
The agreements were signed by His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, His Excellency Dr. Walid Fayad, the Minister of Energy and Water of Lebanon, Mr. Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, and Mr. Claudio Descalzi, the CEO of Eni.
Commenting on the signing of these agreements, His Excellency Mr. Al-Kaabi said: “This very important commitment gives us the opportunity to support Lebanon’s economic development, at this critical juncture. And I want to assure our brothers in Lebanon that with the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, the State of Qatar will always be there in support of a better future for Lebanon and its people.”
His Excellency Minister Al-Kaabi thanked the government of Lebanon and the Ministry of Energy and Water for their support saying: “I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the Government of Lebanon represented by His Excellency Dr. Walid Fayad, the Minister of Energy and Water and the teams at the ministry and the Lebanese Petroleum Administration for the valuable support and cooperation that led to this milestone.”
“I want to thank our partners Mr. Patrick Pouyanné and Mr. Claudio Descalzi as well as the working teams of TotalEnergies, Eni, and QatarEnergy. We are pleased to work with TotalEnergies and Eni, with whom we share a long history of cooperation, and who have a deep understanding of the region and a proven exploration track record. We look forward to beginning work on this promising endeavor, and hope that these efforts are successful for the benefit of Lebanon and its people,” Minister Al-Kaabi concluded.
Block 9 has a total area of 1,749 square kilometers and lies about 80 kilometers off the coast of southern Lebanon in water depths of approximately 1,700 meters, while block 4 has a total area of 1,911 square kilometers and is located in water depths of about 1,500 meters.
Source: Qatar Energy
Lebanon witnessed today a historic event represented in holding the official signing ceremony of the "amending annexes to the Exploration and Production Agreements in Blocks 4 and 9", on the occasion of "Qatar Energy" Company's joining as a partner with "Total Energy" and "Eni" Companies, under the auspices and in presence of Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail.
Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water, Dr. Walid Fayyad, signed on behalf of the Lebanese side; the Minister of State for Qatari Energy Affairs and the CEO of Qatar Energy, Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi on behalf of the Qatari side; the CEO of the "Total Energy" Group, Eng. Patrick Pouyanné, representing the French company, and the CEO of the "Eni" Group, Eng. Claudio Descalzi, representing the Italian company, in the presence of the ambassadors of Qatar, France and Italy.
This step comes after "QatarEnergy" Company became a partner in a consortium of oil rights holders in Blocks 4 and 9 in the Lebanese marine waters as a non-operating oil right holder, joining the French "Total Energy" and the Italian "Eni" operators.
The participation rates in each of the two agreements, due to the concessions of the participation rates in both agreements belonging to Blocks 4 and 9, duly approved by the Council of Ministers (extraordinary approval), are as follows:
- "Total Energy" 35% (thirty-five percent)
- "Eni" 35% (thirty-five percent)
- "Qatar Energy" 30% (thirty percent)
This new partnership coincides with the practical procedures initiated by the operator to carry out exploration and drilling activities in Block No. 9 during this year, whereby Lebanon’s share in the event of a discovery will range between 54 percent and 63 percent after deducting operational and capital costs.
In his delivered address during the press conference held after the signing ceremony, Lebanese Energy Minister Fayyad considered that this represents "a prelude to a new phase that contributes to consolidating Lebanon's position on the oil map in the region."
"We meet today in this historical edifice that testifies to the contemporary history of Lebanon with all its challenges, crises and prosperous past. We look forward to this event, which Lebanon has not witnessed over the past fifty years, to mark 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 a future phase that heralds the prosperity of our beloved country, Lebanon, and the well-being of its people." Fayyad said.
Welcoming the Qatari, French and Italian partners within the exploration trip for natural resources in Lebanon, he expressed pride in Lebanon's success, through the Ministry of Energy and Water and the Petroleum Administration, to attract this solid alliance consisting of the most important international companies in the field of oil and gas extraction.
"This indicates the continuation of confidence in Lebanon despite all the ordeals and crises that it is going through, and the hopes pinned on making commercial discoveries in the exclusive Lebanese economic zone," Fayyad underlined.
Source: National News Agency
Prime Minister Najib Mikati affirmed that "the start of the process of exploration and petroleum activities in the Lebanese waters will have a positive impact, in the short and medium term, on creating opportunities for Lebanese companies interested in the services sector in the field of petroleum, and will provide job opportunities for Lebanese youth, especially for workers in the technical field."
He added: "In the event that commercial quantities are discovered, this will be developed at the required speed and supply the Lebanese market, especially the power plants, with natural gas, which will contribute to growth in the local economy."
Mikati's words came during his patronage of the signing ceremony of "the amended annexes to the exploration and production agreements in Blocks 4 and 9", on the occasion of "Qatar Energy" Company's joining as a partner with the French "Total Energy" and the Italian "Eni" Companies.
He considered that the joining of "QatarEnergy" Company and its acquisition of 30 percent of the exploration and production agreements in Blocks 4 and 9 "constitutes an important and exceptional event in the oil exploration and production sector in the Lebanese marine waters, due to QatarEnergy’s global prestige and experience in the gas industry."
Mikati added: "The operator, Total Energy, which owns a 35 percent stake, in addition to Eni, which owns a 35 percent stake, will start drilling in Block 9, after completing environmental surveys and concessions related to drilling and launching logistical activities from the port of Beirut."
He stressed that "the consortium of companies operating in Blocks 4 and 9 will contribute to advancing investments in the energy sector in Lebanon, which is a long-term investment that the Lebanese state will support with good governance and absolute transparency."
Moreover, Mikati deemed that the "Qatari investment in the energy sector constitutes a strategic partnership between Lebanon and the sisterly State of Qatar and opens the way in the future for Arab and Gulf investments in particular, for the benefit of Lebanon and its Arab brothers."
It is to note that the signing ceremony came after a meeting held this morning by Prime Minister Najib Mikati with Qatari Minister of Energy and CEO of the state company “Qatar Energy”, Saad bin Sherida Al-Kaabi, accompanied by the CEO of “Total Energy” Patrick Pouyanne, and CEO of “Eni” energy company Claudio Descalzi, in the presence of Energy Minister Walid Fayyad at the Grand Serail.
Source: National News Agency