New pipeline to boost Israel’s gas export to Egypt

Partners in Israel’s largest natural gas fields Leviathan and Tamar will invest in new pipeline system to export the fuel to Egypt.

Chevron, as the operator of both gas fields, has entered into an agreement with Israel Natural Gas Lines (INGL) for the provision of transmission services of natural gas from the Tamar reservoir and Leviathan reservoir.

According to the stakeholder Delek Drilling, INGL will construct a transmission system between the Israeli cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon.

The Leviathan and Tamar partners will pay 56.5 per cent of the overall cost of construction of the Ashdod-Ashkelon pipeline, which is estimated at 738 million Israeli shekels ($228 million).

Furthermore, they will pay 27 million shekels, or some $8 million, for the expansion of the Dor-Hagit and Sorek-Nesher pipeline sections.

In addition to the expansion of other lines, it will enable the partners to send as much as 7 billion cubic meters of gas annually to Egypt, Delek noted.

The partners previously agreed to export 44 billion cubic meters of gas to Egypt over a period of eight years.

Delek said that the first gas flows should begin between July 2022 and April 2023.

Chevron is the operator of both fields, and holds a 39.7% stake in Leviathan and 32.5% of Tamar. Delek owns 45.3% of Leviathan and 22% in Tamar.

Chevron acquired Noble Energy in a $5-billion deal last year. As a result it took over its interests in Leviathan and Tamar.