The construction of the Turkey-Israel gas pipeline is being discussed as one of the European alternatives to Russian energy supplies. According to government and industry officials on both sides, difficult maneuvers will be required to reach any deal.
The idea, first conceived a few years ago, is to build an underwater pipeline from Turkey to Israel’s largest offshore natural gas field, Leviathan. The gas will go to Turkey and its South European neighbors who want to diversify their blue fuel supplies outside of Russia.
The Leviathan gas field already supplies Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Its owners, Chevron and the Israeli companies NewMed Energy and Ratio Oil, plan to increase production from 12 to 21 billion cubic meters per year.
Much of the extra gas will be liquefied and shipped to Europe or the Far East, according to NewMed Energy. Last month, NewMed’s chief executive said Turkey could also be a destination, but it should “put its skin on” and commit itself to building the pipeline.