State-run Israel Electric Corp has chosen the Leviathan natural gas field off Israel's Mediterranean coast for a short-term natural gas supply deal, saying it would lower its costs by up to $175 million.
Leviathan will supply about 4 billion cubic meters of gas once production begins this October until June 2021, although the IEC said in a statement there was no minimum purchase requirement.
The deal with Leviathan, which is subject to various approvals, will apply to gas quantities that exceed the minimum it is obligated to buy from the Tamar gas field.
The IEC noted that it has been working to reduce its fuel costs as well as electricity rates and the new deal will save an estimated $145 million to $175 million.
Gas supply after 2021 will come from the Karish field – owned by Energean – once that field comes online.
Leviathan, discovered in 2010 about 120 kilometers (75 miles) off Israel's coast, is one of the world's largest gas discoveries of the past decade. The project operator, Texas-based Noble Energy, owns a 39.66% stake. Delek Drilling holds a 45.34% stake. The nearby Tamar gas field began producing in 2013.
