Explainer: Israel is now an oil exporter with Energean deal, how significant?

Experts told Al-Monitor that the export is not a significant development despite the media buzz, though it may have good public relations value for Israel’s energy sector.
A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.
A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022. - JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images
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Adam Lucente
@Adam_Lucente

The London-based energy firm Energean announced Tuesday that it will start exporting oil from Israel, making the country an oil exporter for the first time. 

Energean said it lifted Israeli crude oil from the Karish gas field, which is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the coast of northern Israel. The energy firm said the oil will be “sold into various global markets” via an agreement with the Swiss energy firm Vitol, according to a press release. 

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