Energy

In Full War Mode, Israel To Double Gas Exports, Expand Production

The Israeli government has approved plans to more than double the country’s natural gas exports and expand production at the giant Leviathan Gas Field in a bid to improve energy security and strengthen diplomatic ties. Energy Minister Eli Cohen has given the greenlight for the export of an additional 118 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas from the east Mediterranean reserves, more than double the 105 bcm previously approved.

Kurdistan’s Oil Independence Dream Just Got Shattered

IOCs active in Iraqi Kurdistan finally yielded to Baghdad’s calls for oil sales to be handled by SOMO.
For China, a fractious independent Kurdistan with strong former ties to the U.S. would make the administration of Iraq’s oil and gas sector much more difficult.
Despite controlling Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil sector post-2017 independence vote, Russia prefers to work with Baghdad’s central government.