Jordan plans to buy gas from field off Gaza coast

Jordanian Energy Minister Mohamed Hamid said that the kingdom is currently conducting talks with the British Gas Group which discovered the marine gas field about 30 kilometres off the coast of Gaza in 2000.

Palestinian Qudsnet reported the Jordan Times saying that it is expected that Jordan is to strike a deal with British Gas Group, Hamid said, to import natural gas from the Gaza Strip this month.

Hamid told the Jordan Times that Amman is to buy natural gas from the field off the Gaza coasts from BG, which is franchised to develop this industry.

He said that there is a planned meeting very soon to see how the gas is to be transported to Jordan, but said that no deal has been reached on price.

Jordan is also planning to import natural gas from Cyprus and Israel. Jordan imports around 96 per cent of its annual energy needs.

Oslo agreement struck in 1993 between the PLO and Israel stipulates that any search for natural wealth has to include teams from both sides.

According to the Palestinian Investment Fund, the gas off the Gaza coast is enough to satisfy Palestinian needs for 15 years. It will help establish two electricity firms in the West Bank and save millions of dollars which are currently paid to Israeli electricity companies.