RusEnergy

02-09-2007 - Upstream onLine - Israel has called on Russia to speed up talks on natural gas deliveries, which it said would become feasible from 2011 when it gets a pipeline connection with Turkey, according to reports. Interfax news agency quoted Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer as saying Israel wanted Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom to supply between 2 billion and 5 billion cubic metres of gas per year. "I count on a breakthrough at today's talks which will allow to sign a memorandum of understanding between the governments in the near future," Interfax quoted Ben-Eliezer as saying before a meeting with Gazprom's head Alexei Miller. Gazprom said in a statement released late today that the two men had discussed the project for Russian gas supplies to Israel but declined further comments. Ben-Eliezer said Israel and Turkey were currently discussing building a 610 kilometre pipeline under the Mediterranean from the Turkish port of Ceyhan to Ashkelon in Israel. "The project could be fulfilled by 2011," he said, adding that Turkey would most likely fund the construction. Russia wants to expand the Blue Stream gas pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea to Turkey, to ship more gas to southern Europe and possibly to Israel. The pipeline, which Gazprom owns jointly with Italy's Eni , has capacity of 16 Bcm a year but is underused as Gazprom says Turkey had overestimated its gas needs. Apart from Russia, Israel is in talks with Azerbaijan to get its gas from the Caspian Shah Deniz field. It currently has an agreement with Egypt to buy 1.7 Bcm of gas over 15 years, with an option for a further five years.