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Israel says gas exports to Egypt, Jordan rose 25% in 2023

Israel stated on Monday that gas materials to Egypt and Jordan rose by about 25% in 2023, in spite of brief interruptions at the start of the war in Gaza, including that exports could be expanded even more.

Israel is positioning itself as a regional energy center and has dedicated to supply natural gas to Europe, which has been diversifying far from Russia given that its intrusion of Ukraine.

The remarkable growth in natural gas exports to Egypt and Jordan shows just how much the gas market is a. strategic possession for Israel and helps local stability,. Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated in a statement.

Cohen said Israel is analyzing the possibility of expanding. exports to make it possible for materials to Europe, either through Egyptian. liquefaction plants or by building local facilities.

The offshore Leviathan field, operated by Chevron. with two Israeli partners, produced 6.29 billion cubic meters. ( bcm) for Egypt and 2.71 bcm for Jordan, the ministry stated.

The close-by Tamar field exported an overall of 2.56 bcm, with. most going to Egypt. The Tamar rig is close to the Gaza Strip. and saw an 11% production drop due to a month-long stop in. operations at the start of Israel's war versus Hamas.

Israel found substantial deposits of gas in the east. Mediterranean 15 years earlier and significant production started in 2013.

In overall, the ministry stated gas production jumped 13.9% from. 2022, leading to a record year in state royalties of 2.19. billion shekels ($ 603 million), which will feed into a nascent. sovereign wealth fund.

The fund, focused on preventing the Israeli shekel from. overheating from an abrupt expansion in national wealth, was set. up in 2014 and was expected to begin operating in 2018.

However after a four-year hold-up due to political turmoil and a. postponed profits stream, the fund started operating in June 2022. when taxes on profits from gas and other resources had. passed a required minimum of 1 billion shekels.

The fund's possessions are anticipated to grow to as much as $12. billion in the next years, the federal government has actually stated.

(source: Reuters)