Overview of best prospect sectors, major infrastructure projects, significant government procurements and business opportunities

In April 2018, the Lebanese government presented a multi-billion dollar Capital Investment Plan (CIP) at the Government of France hosted "CEDRE" investment conference.  Lebanon received over $11 billion in pledges from international donors for the first phase of the CIP.  Concurrently, donors supported Lebanon's reform plan to revitalize infrastructure, undertake fiscal consolidation and customs reforms, modernize public procurement, and adjust electricity tariffs alongside increased power generation.  Among the CIP projects, the government identified 18 which could be implemented as Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
The Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) is the Lebanese government’s executive body responsible for soliciting contracts for major infrastructure projects and supervising their award and execution.  CDR projects target the transportation, electricity, telecommunications, education, water, and sanitation sectors.  These projects are posted online.  The CDR will also the lead the implentation of many infrastucture projects listed in the CIP. 
Significant investment opportunities for international companies exist in the energy, water and wastewater, safety and security, franchising, healthcare and medical technologies, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sectors.  More information about electricity and water projects can be found on the Ministry of Energy and Water website. 
The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA) launched the second licensing round for offshore hydrocarbon development and exploration in April 2019.  Bids are due on January 31, 2020.  Based on a 2010 U.S. Geological Survey study, the Levant Basin may harbor 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 1.7 billion barrels of oil.  Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and Cyprus share these waters.   
There are contracting opportunities for U.S. oil and gas service companies during the offshore exploration phase.  U.S. firms have comparative technological advantages in upgrading Lebanon’s ageing power plants, installing Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs), developing fuel terminals, and establishing storage facilities.  More information about Lebanon’s oil and gas opportunities can be found on the LPA website.
 

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