MEOG: Jordan considers its gas options

The government of Jordan has reached out to Gulf states as it seeks potential alternative gas sources amid concerns about Israel’s reliability as a supplier in the wake of the outbreak of its war against Hamas.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh was quoted by state-run Al Mamlaka TV as voicing fears over the possible interruption – and subsequent temporary shutdown – of the Tamar gas field and the East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) pipeline, which circumnavigates Gaza, running offshore from Israel’s southern town of Ashkelon to El-Arish in northern Egypt.

Chevron, lead partner in Tamar and EMG – as well as Leviathan – resumed operations from the assets in early November after a five-week suspension.

Khasawneh revealed to have held talks with two unspecified Arab Gulf nations, both of which confirmed to be prepared to meet Jordan’s gas demand if required.

In 2016, the partners in Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar gas fields agreed to supply 45bn cubic metres (bcm) to Jordan’s National Electric Power Co. (NEPCO) over a period of 15 years in a $10bn deal – or around $55mn per month.

Khasawneh said that while the cancellation of the deal was “not on the table,” his government harbours concerns about the potential disruption of gas supplies.