The offshore natural gas discovery will not derail plans for liquid natural gas imports.
Officials at the Ministries of Finance and National Infrastructures will likely recommend to the ministers to pursue the liquid natural gas (LNG) import tender, despite the gas discovery at the Tamar prospect offshore from Haifa. The tender is for the import of LNG through 2015.
The ministries' joint tender committee will probably authorize the publication of the prequalification tender in a few weeks. Ministry of Finance deputy account general Avi Dor and Ministry of National Infrastructures director general Hezi Kugler head the committee.
Last year, the cabinet approved the publication of an international tender for the construction of an LNG terminal and its operation for 20-30 years. The terminal will supply four billion cubic meters of natural gas year. The terminal will cost an estimated $500-700 million to build. The tender is due to be published in July.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 29, 2009
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