Sightline with Tim Marshall: can Lebanon still chase natural gas after the Beirut explosion?

The British journalist and broadcaster examines Lebanon’s ambition to find reserves of gas off its shores in the aftermath of the Beirut port blast

When a devastating explosion rocked the port of Beirut it changed thousands of lives in seconds. It also amplified Lebanon’s existing problems.

The country was in the midst of an economic crisis when the blast occurred, one that had been ongoing since the end of last year. It resulted in hyperinflation as the value of its currency collapsed, sparking protests as residents resorted to bartering their belongings.

For years the political establishment has reiterated its confidence that a discovery of natural gas off its shores would reverse the country’s financial woes. In fact, the forecast budget for 2019 was based on predicted gas revenue. However, energy companies scouring the Levant Basin in the Mediterranean have yet to find much.

What impact will the catastrophe of August 4 have on Lebanon's efforts to find gas off its shores?

Tim Marshall investigates in this week’s episode of Sightline.