Israeli gas plans move tentatively ahead
Geopolitics could harm Leviathan export prospects just as the signs are looking good
There are two distinct perspectives to the planned development of Israel's giant (22 trillion cubic feet of reserves) offshore Leviathan natural gasfield. From one side, signs today are that this huge gas find, discovered in December 2010, is finally on its way to monetisation. From the other perspective, the prospects look less promising. The optimism is on the Israeli side. In February, the Delek group, holder of a 45.34% share in the Leviathan project, announced that its subsidiaries Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration had received loans from Israeli and international banks worth $1.75bn for their share in the cost of developing the field. Chief executive Yossi Abu said the financing
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
