The construction of the terminal to receive natural gas from the Tamar field will be held up for at least six months because of yesterday's decision by the National Planning and Building Commission to order examination of an offshore alternative, according to professionals connected with the Commission.
At the headquarters of the campaign against the terminal the decision was hailed as "a great victory."
A spokesperson for the partners in Tamar told "Globes" in response to the decision, "The partners are in shock; this means another three years work at least."
In the partners' view, the Commission's decision will lead to delay in the development of the project and put back the planned finishing date to 2013, as many foresaw.
However, sources in the partnerships said the decision would not delay financial backing for the project because only at the main financing stage would the developers have to present an approved plan.
The Ministry of National Infrastructures warned that "the timetable for an examination of this sort will have a substantial effect on the reliability of the supply of power to the Israeli economy in the immediate term, especially on the supply of 'clean' power."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 7, 2010
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010