Eric Watkins
Oil Diplomacy Editor
Israel's nascent oil and gas industry is facing some uphill struggles these days, especially as neighbors seek to undermine its energy security.
One example came last week with the bombing of a natural gas pipeline from Egypt. Masked gunman blew up part of the gas terminal at El Arish in the Sinai, about 50 km from Israel.
The bombing was the fourth in 6 months, cutting off badly needed supplies during the hot summer months when Israelis' increased use of air conditioning sends electricity demand off the charts.
While some pundits could shrug off the attack, citing recent discoveries of gas offshore that could make Israel energy-independent for decades to come, others noted that even those new supplies could be under threat.
Maritime border problem
For starters, there's the problem of a maritime border dispute with Lebanon, which has recently staked its own claim with the United Nations to a part of the Mediterranean also claimed by Israel.
"The Cabinet…approved the draft of the northern maritime border of Israel," said Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. "This line demarcates the area of the state's economic rights, including the exploitation of natural resources."
But hardly was the ink dry on that statement than neighboring Lebanon took issue with the Israeli claim, saying that it would file a complaint against Tel Aviv with the UN.
"For sure we will file a complaint. This is an aggression on our gas and oil rights and we will not remain silent," said Lebanon's Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour. "This is a de facto policy that will not bring peace for Israel. Israel is creating a new area of tension."
But Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman could not disagree more, saying his country "will soon be presenting the [UN] headquarters in New York with our position on our maritime borders."
Pressure from Hezbollah
"We have already concluded an agreement on this issue with Cyprus. Lebanon, under pressure from Hezbollah, is looking for friction, but we will not give up any part of what is rightfully ours," Lieberman told Israeli radio.
At stake, some say, are the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields off Israel's northern city of Haifa, with Tamar holding a reported 238 billion cu m of gas and Leviathan, 450 billion cu m.
While international energy experts have said that Leviathan field might be straddling Lebanon's maritime border with Israel, at least one Israeli observer thinks there's little to worry about.
"Even if the UN were to adopt the Lebanese version of the maritime border, there would be no serious harm to Israel's exploration licenses in the region," said Amiram Barkat.
Perhaps there is enough gas to share.
More Oil & Gas Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Journal Archives Issue Articles
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com