In this illustration from February 8, 2022, a 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of the Chevron logo displayed. Portal/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire License Rights
JERUSALEM, Oct 10 (Portal) – Chevron (CVX.N) has halted natural gas exports via a major undersea pipeline between Israel and Egypt and is supplying gas via an alternative pipeline through Jordan, the company said on Tuesday.
The decision to halt exports via the East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) pipeline came as fighting between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip intensified.
“Due to the Ministry of Energy’s directive to stop production on the Tamar production platform and the security situation in southern Israel, all exports to Egypt were redirected through the FAJR pipeline,” which connects Jordan with Egypt. said a spokesman.
The EMG pipeline runs from the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, about 10 kilometers north of Gaza, to El-Arish in Egypt, where it is connected to an onshore pipeline.
The 90-kilometer-long pipeline is the main connection between the Chevron-operated Leviathan offshore gas field and Egypt. The Leviathan consortium includes the operator Chevron, the Israeli company NewMed Energy (NWMDp.TA) and Ratio Energies (RATIp.TA).
Israel’s Energy Ministry confirmed in a statement to Portal that Chevron had requested to export gas through an alternative pipeline connecting Leviathan to Jordan and Egypt, called the Arab Gas Pipeline.
On Monday, Israel halted production at the Tamar gas field off its southern coast, three days after violence erupted following a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
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Separately, energy industry sources said the amount of gas exported to Egypt from Israel’s massive Leviathan field has been slightly reduced as deliveries to the domestic market take priority, but is still close to quota.
According to the sources, Leviathan has been exporting larger quantities to Egypt than stipulated in the sales agreements for several weeks.
“For every molecule we export, we first check whether it is not needed in the Israeli market,” a source said.
Reporting by Ron Bousso and Ari Rabinovitch; Edited by Jan Harvey and David Gregorio
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