US energy corporation Chevron announced Monday that natural gas flow from the Tamar gas field had been cut off in accordance with the instructions by the Israeli authorities following the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The statement came after the Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday in response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, increasing settler violence.
At least 560 Palestinians were killed and 2,900 injured, while around 800 Israelis were killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the fighting.
‘Chevron is focused on the safe and reliable supply of natural gas for the benefit of the Israeli domestic market and our regional customers. Our top priority is the safety of our personnel, the communities in which we operate, the environment and our facilities,’ the company told Anadolu in an e-mailed statement.
‘As reported by the Tamar working interest owners to the Israel Securities Authority, Chevron Mediterranean Limited was instructed by Israel’s Ministry of Energy to shut-in production at the Tamar Production Platform,’ the company added.
Chevron said the company would continue gas supply in Israel and in the region from the Leviathan production platform.
Confirming the supply outages, the Israeli energy ministry said, ‘In the wake of the situation, Israel’s defense establishment ordered the temporary suspension of natural gas supplies from the Tamar field.’
Security concerns regarding the Tamar platform have increased as it is located 25 kilometers from the city of Ashdod along Israel’s southern Mediterranean coast.
Discovered around a decade ago, the gas field brings online 10.25 billion cubic meters of natural gas, making Israel one of the biggest producers in the region.
