New offshore gas project may turn Israel into ‘energetic power’ – Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the upcoming extraction of offshore natural gas will turn the country into an “energetic power.” Netanyahu toured the newly-placed foundation for the coastal rig in the Leviathan gas field on Thursday. Its arrival marks the first stage of an ambitious project the PM says will wean Israel off coal and revolutionize its economy by turning it into an energy exporter. The topside of the platform is expected to arrive in the coming months. Natural gas from the field is supposed to pump into Israel and the neighboring countries by the end of the year. Israel already has export deals signed with Jordan and Egypt, and it aims to build a pipeline with Greece and Cyprus to carry the gas to Europe, AP said.