A drilling consortium developing Israeli offshore natural-gas fields is closing in on a politically sensitive deal to supply gas to Jordan, according to people familiar with the situation -- moving the Jewish state a step closer to exporting energy for the first time in its history.
A drilling consortium developing Israeli offshore natural-gas fields is
closing in on a politically sensitive deal to supply gas to
Jordan
,
according to people familiar with the situation -- moving the Jewish state a
step closer to exporting energy for the first time in its history.
Israel
's
Delek Group Ltd. and Texas-based Noble Energy Inc., which are developing fields
offshore
Israel
, are
discussing a gas supply deal with Arab Potash Co., a fertilizer company with a
plant in
Jordan
,
according to these people. The deal would involve extending a gas pipeline from
an Israeli chemical plant to APC, located across the
Dead
Sea
in
Jordan
.
An Israeli official familiar with the talks said a deal could be just weeks
away. Another person familiar with the talks, Oded Eran,
Israel
's
former ambassador to
Jordan
, said
an agreement in principle has already been reached, but both sides are still
haggling over pricing and other technicalities.
"It's very close," Mr. Eran said.
While relatively small in terms of commercial value, the deal could open a
major economic link between the neighboring countries.
For
Israel
it
would carry outsize symbolic significance. Since its founding decades ago,
Israel
has
struggled with a lack of energy reserves in a region full of energy-rich and
hostile neighbors.
A senior Egyptian official familiar with the country's gas agreement said
Jordan
has
informed them it is close to signing the deal, but final details are yet to be
agreed on.
A representative for APC couldn't be reached for comment. APC is 28% owned by
Potash Corp. of
Saskatchewan
, and
a spokesman there referred questions back to APC. A spokesperson for Delek
declined to comment, and a spokesperson for Noble Energy didn't respond to
requests for comment.
Energy companies in recent years have announced two major discoveries off the
Israeli Mediterranean coast, estimated to hold at least 650 billion cubic
meters of gas. That is enough, in theory, to satisfy Israeli energy demands for
decades, while leaving a surplus to export.
Διαβάστε ακόμα
Παρ, 26 Ιουλίου 2024 - 16:04
Παρ, 26 Ιουλίου 2024 - 16:02
Τετ, 24 Ιουλίου 2024 - 15:10
Τετ, 24 Ιουλίου 2024 - 15:06
Τρι, 23 Ιουλίου 2024 - 16:51