"Israel's potential gas discoveries stand at 1,000 billion cubic meters (BCM)," Ministry of National Infrastructures, Israel Natural Gas Authority director general Yehosua (Shuki) Stern said today.
Speaking at the Ministry of Environmental Protection's energy and the environment conference Stern said that Israel's proven natural gas reserves amount to 300 BCM almost all in the Tamar field. He observes that that figure is expected to rise by 453 BCM after production tests are completed at the Leviathan field. In the coming years, Stern expects a further 550 BCM of natural gas to be discovered in Israeli economic waters bringing the country's total reserves to 1,300 BCM.
Stern added, "In 2014-2015 there will be an additional entry from Tamar to Israel in the Ashkelon region, and an additional supplier will come into the Israeli gas market around 2016-2017."
Regarding the controversy over where the gas terminal for the Tamar gas field should be located, Stern said, "There is no logic in bringing the gas from Tamar south to Ashkelon and then back north again. We expect the terminal to be in the Hadera region or somewhere on the coast in the north. Nowhere in the world is there not a direct link from the field's platform. I know I am saying things that people do not like to hear but there are no magic solutions."
Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 7, 2011
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