Border and Vital Installations Security - BVIS in its first edition will address all subjects related to safeguarding the maritime borders of Lebanon. The conference shall also cover topics centered around the off-shore and in-land installations associated with the oil and gas excavations and drilling, that will take place in Lebanon and its economic zone. BVIS sessions will tackle the preparedness and requirements of the Lebanese military, technological solutions, and concepts of operations for dealing with safety and security hazards. This includes the implementation of the necessary legislation to facilitate the work of military and government agencies, the security of oil and gas facilities and employees, and the likely demands of the insurance companies.
BVIS will feature prominent speakers from the Lebanese military and relevant government bureaus, along with top executives from the security and defense industry, as well as the oil and gas industries. It will be an opportunity to bring together all the stakeholders in the oil and gas installations that will be established in the country, particularly those that will be responsible for providing security to the facilities and their work crews. There will be three-panel daily sessions with the possibility of closed roundtable discussions on the sidelines. Only registered and invited people will be allowed in the event, likely gathering a few hundred people from inside and outside the country. The presentations and discussions will lead to the production of a set of recommendations and policy proposals that will be sent to the relevant parties inside Lebanon and internationally.
Background: On October 27, 2022, Lebanese officials signed a U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation agreement with Israel, which paved the way for exploration work to resume in Lebanese waters with strong support from international players. The consortium comprising Total Energies, Eni, and Qatar Energy has proceeded with steps to accelerate exploration with the anticipation of finding oil and gas fields in Lebanese waters and economic zone. As Lebanon readies to enter the club of oil and gas-producing countries, it is seeking to acquire the knowledge of providing safety and security for all the infrastructure and facilities that will be established and to grow the capability needed for the task. Leading efforts for keeping the installations safe and secured is the LAF which is looking to enhance its air-sea operations and maritime capabilities. This will include offshore patrol vessels, unmanned systems (air and sea), ISR systems, secure communication systems, helicopters for maritime search and rescue, and firefighting helicopters and vessels.