The cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of the six members of the petroleum committee as it failed anew to agree on the sources of funding for the new wage scale.

The cabinet on Wednesday approved the appointment of the six members of the petroleum committee as it failed anew to agree on the sources of funding for the new wage scale.

“The cabinet agreed on the following candidates for the petroleum authority: Nasser Hteit, Walid Nasser, Wissam al-Zahabi, Amin Ibrahim, Wissam Shbat and Gaby Daaboul,” Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after the cabinet session.

Local media outlets said that Energy Minister Jebran Bassil awaited an official memo from the Ministry of Energy ahead of submitting to the cabinet the names of the members.

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed on Wednesday that he had conducted over the past few hours “intense” contacts over the appointment of members of the petroleum authority.

The speaker highlighted the importance of the appointments at the petroleum authority, saying that its achievement will help improve the poor economic situation in Lebanon.

He had stated over the weekend that a recent international study had revealed that Lebanon sits on the greatest oil and gas wealth in the region.

Lebanon and the Zionist entity are bickering over a zone that consists of about 882 square kilometers and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.

The cabinet approved in September the proposed borders of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean.
In June, Lebanon was able to restore 530 square kilometers of a maritime zone that it considers it to be within its EEZ.

Media reports said that the United States and the United Nations acknowledged Lebanon’s rights to control the 530 square kilometer disputed area after prolonged diplomatic and political efforts.

Meanwhile, head of private school teachers union Nehme Mahfoud told MTV that the Syndicate Coordination Committee, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, will press on with a general strike scheduled for Thursday over the government's failure to refer the new wage scale to parliament.

“The SCC will meet on Friday to discuss the escalatory steps because the government has proved its failure,” Mahfoud added.

However, the cabinet argues that it's delaying the issue to thoroughly discuss plans to boost the treasury's revenue to cover the expenses of the salaries boost.