Behind the conflict in the Gaza Strip there may be commercial interests associated with the gas field. The Greek portal Pronews writes about this.
The media claims that there are huge energy reserves in the sea shelf – we are talking about one trillion cubic meters of natural gas in at least two areas – Gaza Marina and Med Yavne.
Energy research rights located in the Gaza EEZ, currently owned by British company BP, expire in 2024, according to media reports. And “whoever will be the ruler of Gaza will grant exploration and mining rights to whomever he deems necessary,” the publication notes.
The Russian portal Neftegaz.ru also develops the thesis that gas can be a cause of conflict. The publication recalls that in 2009 a field was discovered in the Mediterranean Sea on the shelf in front of the Gaza Strip. Gas reserves there are estimated at $4 billion.
The Gaza Strip, along with the shelf, was under the control of the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, the rights to develop the gas field were transferred back in 1999 for a period of 25 years to a consortium consisting of British gas with a 60% share, the Lebanese Consolidated Contractors Company with a 30% share and the Palestinian Authority Investment Fund with 10%, the portal adds. The media claims that Israel, through the courts, denied the Palestinians the right to dispose of gas from this field, and also prevented the start of gas production at the field in general, the publication writes. The media indicates “a connection with current events and attempts to provoke a conflict in order to establish control over the Gaza Strip and, accordingly, over the adjacent sea shelf with hydrocarbon reserves.”
The day before, The Guardian newspaper wrote that the United States was discussing the issue of the future management of the Gaza Strip with Israel, without taking into account the opinions of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, who are allegedly “planned to be expelled from the territory” – after which control over hydrocarbon deposits will completely pass into the hands of Israel and Western companies .
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
