Israel suspends operations at two gas fields over missile threats

Israeli authorities have halted work at the Leviathan and Karish gas fields following threats of Iranian missile attacks. Companies operating at the offshore fields have evacuated personnel and suspended all drilling and gas production.

The Leviathan gas field, discovered in 2010 about 130 kilometres west of Haifa, is the largest in the Eastern Mediterranean, with estimated reserves of approximately 535 billion cubic metres of natural gas. Together with Karish, the fields contain around 585 billion cubic metres of gas, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

A prolonged shutdown could trigger widespread power cuts in major cities, force energy-intensive industries to close, and sharply reduce gas exports to neighbouring countries.

Jordan, which imports roughly 80 per cent of its electricity from Israeli gas, now faces a serious energy crisis as a result of the suspension.

By Sabina Mammadli