Cyprus to work with Israel over exploitation of Aphrodite gas field - CYPRUS MAIL

January 4, 2020
Peter Michael

Cyprus will send a proposal for the exploitation of the Aphrodite natural gas field in the coming weeks to Israel, government spokesman Kyriacos Koushios said on Saturday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event for a special needs schools in Alassa, Koushios commented on the signing of the EastMed pipeline agreement on Thursday, saying the government met with Israeli representatives and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the exploitation of the Aphrodite field.

“In the next two to three weeks, our side will send a proposal to the energy ministry of Israel, and we believe that there will be no problems for the exploitation of the Aphrodite field,” he said.

He added countries wishing to join in on the EastMed agreement are welcome, something the leaders who signed the agreement noted.

Signing ceremony in Athens of the East Med Pipeline Agreement - TWITTER / SAMMY REVEL

2 January 2020

Signing ceremony in #Athens today 2.1.2020 of the EastMed Pipeline Agreement.

An historical step forward in the #Israel-#Cyprus-#Greece Trilateral and our joint ambition to export natural gas to #Europe 🇮🇱🇨🇾🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/tWDlNqeTDE

— Sammy Revel 🇮🇱 (@SammyRevel) January 2, 2020

Israel Could Be Key to 2020 Middle East Geopolitics - THE BEGIN-SADAT CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES

January 2, 2020
Frank Musmar
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,389, January 2, 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Israel’s geographical position means it must stay agile and manage complex relations with its Muslim neighbors through quiet collaboration and smart use of its technological and economic advantages. Over the past two decades, Israel has discovered offshore gas, begun extensive seawater desalination, and dramatically expanded its navy’s platforms and missions. Ten years ago, Israel depended on Egypt’s natural gas; nowadays, Israel exports natural gas to Egypt and Jordan.

Britsh-Greek Company Energean to Join EastMed Pipeline - HAARETZ

Ora Coren
Jan 02, 2020 5:07 AM

The memorandum of understanding will be the first commercial agreement linked to the giant energy project

Energean, the British-Greek company that controls the Israeli Karish and Tanin natural gas fields, will sign a memorandum of understanding Thursday with the Public Gas Corporation of Greece in the first commercial agreement connected with the projected EastMed pipeline.

Greek media reported that the deal to provide Energean gas will be signed shortly before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek and Cypriot leaders sign an agreement in Athens on Thursday to develop the pipeline.

This will also be a show of force against Turkey, which has effectively agreed with Libya to divide much of the East Mediterranean.

Leviathan gas begins flowing to Jordan - GLOBES

Yuval Steinitz, Israel's energy minister

2 Jan, 2020 9:02

Jordan's National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) has said that the experimental supply of natural gas by US-based Noble Energy Inc. started as of yesterday. "The experimental pumping, which will last three months, is aimed at testing the infrastructure prior to the actual commercial supply," NEPCO added.

NEPCO continued, "The gas supply is in line with an agreement signed between the two companies in 2016. Under the agreement, Noble Energy will provide gas worth $15 billion dollars to the Kingdom for a period of 15 years, or 300 million cubic feet on a daily basis."

No mention in NEPCO's statement was made of either Israel or Leviathan because the agreement to buy Israeli gas is unpopular with many in Jordan. Last year Jordan's parliament scrap the deal.

Italy fully backs EastMed - KATHIMERINI

01.JAN.2020 : 15:26

On Thursday, Cyprus, Greece and Israel will sign, in Athens, an Intergovernmental Agreement on building the EastMed natural gas pipeline, and Italy's Minister for Economic Development Stefano Patuanelli, whose portfolio includes Energy, has sent a letter of support for the project to his Greek counterpart, Environment and Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.

“I would like to express my warmest wishes for the success of the initiative, which Italy continues to support in the framework of the European Projects of Common Interest,” Patuanelli mentions in his letter.

The agreement will be signed by Hatzidakis and his counterparts from Cyprus, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, and Israel, Yuval Steinitz. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the Prime Ministers of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will attend the signing ceremony.

Despite pollution fears, gas flow begins from behemoth Leviathan field - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

The Environmental Protection Ministry said Monday that Noble Energy and its partners had met all the necessary conditions to begin pumping gas, paving the way for the rigs to begin extracting the estimated 22 trillion cubic feet of gas trapped underground.

Early Tuesday morning Noble began a gas rig test that is necessary ahead of starting operations, and later that morning the partners in Leviathan announced the start of natural gas production from the reservoir, the largest energy project in Israel’s history.

The first gas will reach Israel’s shores via the pipes within 24 to 48 hours from the start of production, the companies estimated.

Exxon Mobil secures large exploration position offshore Egypt - HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Dec. 30, 2019
Jordan Blum

Exxon Mobil said Monday it secured a large exploration position offshore of Egypt as the United States' largest energy player expands its role in developing oil and gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Exxon Mobil, which made a large natural gas discovery offshore of Cyprus 10 months ago, now plans to grow nearby in Egypt's territorial waters. Exxon also has discussed exploring offshore of Israel.

"These (acreage) awards strengthen our exploration portfolio in the Eastern Mediterranean," said Mike Cousins, Exxon's senior vice president of exploration and new ventures. "We look forward to working with the government and deploying our proven expertise and advanced technology."

Electrical equipment of Israel-Jordan gas line torched - THE JERUSALEM POST

DECEMBER 29, 2019 10:31
Tzvi Joffre

Two electrical transformers servicing a gas transfer station intended to transport gas from the Leviathan natural gas field in Israel into Jordan were torched by unidentified people in Irbid in northern Jordan on Saturday.

According to Sky News Arabia, this is not the first attack against the gas transfer station in Irbid. Gas flow through the station is expected to start in the next few days.

Jordanian citizens and politicians have expressed protest to the planned transfer of gas between the two nations.

On Sunday, Jordan's parliament filed an urgent memo, requesting that a law be drafted to ban the import of gas from Israel, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Dozens of activists held a protest in front of the parliament, calling for a cancellation of the gas trade deal.