Natural Gas Export Options for Israel and Cyprus

Recent discoveries of natural gas offshore Israel and Cyprus give both the countries the potential to become energy exporters. But the fields, deep below the seabed in waters 2,000 meters deep and more than 100 kilometers from the coast of either country, present technical and diplomatic challenges for which there are no obvious simple solutions. The prospect of finding additional significant gas fields, and even exploitable oil deposits, compounds decision-making challenges. The way forward appears to be the development of a range of export options, both by pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and perhaps as electricity. Cooperation between Israel and Cyprus is likely an important element in each country’s successful exploitation of the new-found riches.