NNA - Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, held a meeting today with the Director General of Exploration and Production at "Total" Company, Romain de la Martiniere, in the presence of the Director General of the Committee for the Administration and Investment of the Port of Beirut, Omar Itani, the Director General for Civil Aviation, Fadi Al-Hassan, and members of the Board of Directors of the Petroleum Sector Authority, Gaby Daaboul and Wissam Al-Dhahabi.

The meeting tackled the final touches related to the discussions between the Public Works Ministry and “Total” Company in terms of procedures, facilities and logistics that will be provided by the port of Beirut and the airport during the period of oil and gas exploration in Block No. 9.

Hamieh stressed during the meeting that "the Beirut port and airport have become fully prepared and ready to keep pace with the company's work throughout the entire period of executing drilling activities in Block No. 9."

In turn, de la Martiniere affirmed "cooperation was a feature of the previous stage between the company and the ministry, as well as with the concerned departments at Beirut port and the airport, which will reflect positively on the start of previously planned drilling operations."

========R.Sh.