Israel closes Leviathan gas field after strikes on Iran, cutting supply to Egypt
The shutdown comes after Israel launched a series of air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites as well as key nuclear scientists and officials.
Israel on Friday suspended production at its largest gas field, Leviathan, offshore in the Mediterranean, cutting supply to Egypt, a major importer of Israeli gas.
The shutdown comes after Israel launched a series of overnight airstrikes against military and nuclear sites in Iran, as well as targeting and killing key Iranian nuclear scientists and officials, including the head of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran has vowed to respond.
A statement by the Israeli Energy Ministry on Friday said Leviathan, operated by Chevron, would shut down due to security concerns. Producing some 12 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year, the field supplies Israel as well as Jordan and Egypt. As of 2024, Israel exported 90% of its output to those two Arab countries. In 2023, Israel exported 8.6 bcm of gas to Egypt and 2.9 bcm to Jordan. Plans are underway to increase Leviathan's output to 23 bcm per year.
Bloomberg, citing a source with knowledge of the matter, reported Friday that the supply of gas to Egypt had been falling before the shutdown.
