Israel looks at Azerbaijani gas and oil

Israel could spend up to USD 40 billion on Azerbaijani gas imports in coming years, Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said in an interview with the news agency Trend in Baku this week.

The Israeli official said Israel uses over two billion cubic meters of gas per year, but that this is likely to increase dramatically in the years to come. He also confirmed that initial talks are underway with Azerbaijani officials that could lead to a long-term gas import agreement.

“We have been buying gas from Egypt, but are doing exploration work in Israel and holding negotiations with our partners. Azerbaijan occupies a special place among the producer partners,” Ben-Eliezer said, according to Azerbaijani news agency Trend.

He also discussed a proposed project to bring Azerbaijani oil to the Eilat–Ashkelon pipeline, which runs through Israel between the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

“Azerbaijani oil delivered to Cehyan via the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline can be attracted for transit [in this project]. The Azerbaijani oil would be unloaded by tanker in Asheklon and transported onwards to Eilat via the pipeline…for further delivery to the East Asia region,” he said.