The cooperation between the countries will lead to the promotion of a huge project that will connect the gas transmission systems in Israel to Europe • The connection will be made through an underwater gas pipeline
Whale Gas Reservoir, last year
Photo:
AP
A huge achievement:
Israel will supply gas to Egypt and Jordan for $ 30 billion, Energy Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz stated yesterday as part of the historic event of the signing of the regional gas forum constitution.
At the ceremony, the energy ministers of the founding companies signed a constitution of a joint organization - as a first step in its establishment and regulation of its activities.
Simultaneously with the signing of the ministers, the ambassadors of the forum members stationed in Cairo - Italy, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, the Palestinian Authority - along with the ambassadors of the countries who expressed a desire to take part in the forum: France as a full member, EU and US - as observers. Took place online.
The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) was established as a joint initiative of Energy Minister Steinitz and its Egyptian counterpart, Tarek al-Mulla, against the backdrop of natural gas discoveries in the Mediterranean.
For the past year and a half, the Ministry of Energy has worked with Italy, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, and the PA to establish the organization and formulate a constitution for the organization, which was signed at the beginning of the year by the companies' energy ministers.
This constitution actually allows for the establishment of the organization between the states.
As part of the collaboration, the giant "East Med" project will be promoted, which over a period of up to eight years will connect Israel's gas transmission systems to the EU, via a new 2,000 km long underwater gas pipeline. Of Russia, Turkey and Lebanon.
In accordance with the forum's constitution, the main goals of the organization are to establish a platform for dialogue between its members on issues related to the utilization of natural gas resources in the region, while formulating a common vision for realizing the potential of natural gas resources and examining ways to implement it.
Membership in the organization is expected to provide the State of Israel with significant benefits, in the professional aspect of promoting joint activities and goals in the field of natural gas as well as in the political, regional and international aspects, as well as promoting normalization in regional relations, which will help develop Israel's natural gas economy, Israel and other regions.
Minister Steinitz said: "The gas blessing also brings us regional cooperation with Arab and European countries, the first of its kind in history with contracts to export blue-and-white gas to Jordan and Egypt for $ 30 billion, and this is just the beginning."