We’re getting more gas from Israel as the Tamar field resumes production: Israeli natural gas exports to Egypt have risen by 60% to 350-400 mn cubic feet a day, up from 250 mn earlier this month, Bloomberg reported, citing a person it says is familiar with the situation. The report came as Chevron announced it had resumed production from the Tamar gas field, which was shut last month due to safety concerns stemming from the conflict in Gaza.The company expects production at the field to reach full capacity in the coming days, Reuters reported yesterday, citing industry sources.

In perspective: This is still only half of pre-war import volumes, which totalled 800 mn cubic feet per day.

EastMed pipeline could resume next: The East Mediterranean Gas pipeline, which runs from Israel’s Ashkelon to Egypt’s Arish, is also likely to restart operations this week, Bloomberg reported, citing three people it says are familiar with the matter. Chevron has been exporting gas via the Arab Gas Pipeline since EMG’s closure.

BACKGROUND- Gas flows to Egypt have been gradually picking up this month after falling following the closure of the Tamar field. The Madbouly cabinet said at the end of October that gas imports had fallen to zero. An industry insider we spoke to at the time said gas imports had never dropped below 100 mn cubic feet per day — a fraction of the pre-war volume.

We’ll be compensated:Chevron and Delek Drilling have offered to compensate Egypt for the reduced gas shipments “once the situation stabilizes,” Asharq Business quoted an unnamed Egyptian government official as saying yesterday.

Tags: