May 2013, Vol. 240, No. 5

Projects

Israel Opens Offshore Natural Gas Field

Natural gas from a large offshore field is flowing into Israel, “an important step toward energy independence,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The gas, located in Tamar reservoir, was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea in 2009. It ships to a terminal in the port of Ashdod.

The Ministry of Energy believes the field will supply 50-80% of Israel’s natural gas needs over the next 10 years. Half of Israel’s electricity is generated from natural gas. Discovery of another major field off the northern coast, known as Leviathan, may make Israel an energy exporter.