In parallel to efforts to pass the gas roadmap agreement, attempts are also continuing to encourage other gas companies to invest in Israeli drilling and energy production. As part of these efforts Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water Resources Yuval Steinitz held marathon talks last week in Washington and mainly Houston with US energy companies.
The first company he met was New York-based Hess Corp. (NYSE: HES), which is ranked as the world's 28th largest energy company - Leviathan and Tamar well operator Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) is ranked 103. Hess has operation worldwide including the Us, Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australia and Brazil. It is also building up its gas and oil fracking capabilities.
Steinitz also met with EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG), ranked 39 in the world, with oil reserves in Canada, Trinidad, the UK, and China.
Steinitz also met with Noble Energy senior executives in Houston yesterday in order to tell them that the prime minister and he were committed to the gas plan, which was expected to be passed in the coming weeks. Steinitz added, "When the plan is approved, development of the Leviathan and Karish-Tanin reservoirs can go ahead."
Since Antitrust Authority director general David Gilo announced 10 months ago that he was reneging on the agreed order reached with the gas companies, the sector has been stagnating. Three votes on the gas agreement have been scheduled, but each vote was postponed. Noble Energy has already signaled a number of times that it is preparing for a legal contest against Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 25, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015