Israel to open up offshore for exploration

Noble Energy and Transocean rig in the Tamar field, between Cyprus and Israel. (Transocean)

Israel plans to open up more of its offshore territory to explorers when its new gas regulatory framework comes into effect at the start of next year, according to Yuval Steinitz, the minister of national infrastructure, energy and water resources.

Steinitz told the Universal Oil and Gas conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday by announcing that he had already instructed his ministry to open up the country’s exclusive economic zone for new exploration.

He said only 25% of the country’s waters had been explored for hydrocarbons, and...