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Obstacles Still Facing Israel's Leviathan Gas Field
(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Simon Henderson - Israel's Leviathan natural gas field, 80 miles off Israel's coast, has finally begun production. Israel's domestic demand for electricity is largely met by gas from the smaller Tamar field. Accordingly, contracts are in place to send Leviathan's gas to Jordan and Egypt. The viability of recent discoveries is being tested by persistently low prices for natural gas on the international market. Leviathan has already cost $3.75 billion to bring to production, and its second stage of development is being delayed until its profitability is more certain. The writer is director of the Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute.