{
  "id": 20203289,
  "title": "Lebanon in talks for 20-year gas deal with Qatar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/lebanon-in-talks-for-20-year-gas-deal-with-qatar",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-15T16:38:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/15/lebanon-in-talks-for-20-year-gas-deal-with-qatar/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reported significant advancements in negotiations for a 20-year gas supply agreement with Qatar during his visit to Doha. This potential deal aims to alleviate Lebanon's struggling energy sector, which can only provide a few hours of electricity daily, leaving many relying on costly private generators. Qatar has expressed interest in financing an electricity project and has offered to discuss various proposals, including generating more electricity in Lebanon, importing energy through Syria, and constructing a terminal for receiving gas via sea. The discussions also involve a 20-year deal to supply liquefied natural gas from Qatar alongside renewable energy initiatives. Upon meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Salam expressed gratitude for Qatar's support during Lebanon's challenging circumstances. Lebanese energy officials arrived in Doha on Sunday evening to further discuss technical aspects of the agreement. Qatar, a leading gas producer, has faced reduced output due to Iranian attacks, leading to a 42% drop in state revenue in the first half of this year. However, the country's economy is projected to grow by 15% next year. Conversely, Lebanon's situation is more dire, grappling with a war, occupation, and financial crisis. The state electricity provider, Electricite du Liban, has begun cutting power to public institutions that have not paid their bills, potentially leaving millions of dollars owed. The country's reliance on imports and susceptibility to fuel price hikes due to the US-Iran war further exacerbates its economic predicament.",
  "summary": "Lebanon 's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced \"significant progress\" towards an energy agreement with Qatar on Sunday as he visited Doha to discuss a potential 20-year supply deal. A Qatari gas deal would be a boost to Lebanon's ailing energy sector, which struggles to produce more than a few hours of electricity per day. Many Lebanese rely on expensive private generators . Qatar has offered to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}