Gas Discovery Will Not Change Israel’s World Standing

Although the Tamar and Leviathan gas discoveries might seem like manna from heaven, Israel shouldn’t drop its guard just yet

Compared to its Arab neighbors, Israel’s oil and gas reserves are scant, of which the government is painfully aware. So eager are they to find and develop their own such reserves they passed the Israel Petroleum Law (1952), which essentially gives free reign to the first person to discover oil to rake it all up as swiftly as possible. They’ll take anything: oil shale, a very destructive and inefficient source of energy, and yes, they’ll take gas too.

Gas as panacea

The gas discoveries at the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields have sent a ripple of excitement through stakeholders, as though the panacea for Israel’s energy woes has finally arrived.  According to a Globes report, investors pumped up Israeli energy company shares in anticipation.

Of course, the discovery is not without controversy, given the territorial dispute still outstanding between Israel and Lebanon, not to mention the potential environmental impact of extraction.

Nonetheless, critics worry that the discovery will lead to apathy in other areas.

Apathy

Mira Awwad quotes from a New York Times article that Israelis, in response to the dirth of oil and gas supplies until now were “obliged to live off their wits, Israelis turned their country into a high-tech haven.”

However, there is concern that if they don’t take the gas supplies in stride, “Israel could blow its windfall and turn into a nation of single-resource slackers.”

Israel’s gas won’t solve all woes

Although US Geologist Christopher Schenk believes that the discovery will afford Israel sufficient gas for its own constituents over the next generation, and may even turn them into energy exporters, University of Haifa Professor Brenda Shaffer brings the subject back down to earth.

Professor Shaffer does think that the gas could be a boon for Israel’s economy, if handled properly, she told Awwad that “Qatar is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas in the world and it has not turned into a major power. Having oil and gas doesn’t solve your problems.”

:: image via kudumomo and story via Globes

More Fossil Fuel News:

Egyptian Gas Exporter Given Israeli Tax Exemption in $6 Billion Deal

Summer Heat Jams Power Production in Oil-rich Saudi Arabia

BP To Drill Even Deeper Off Libya’s Coast

Author: Tafline Laylin

As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.

Comments

comments