Israel has ordered the temporary shutdown of several major natural gas fields as a security measure following a joint military operation with the United States against Iran, reports Bloomberg.
The move, announced by the Israeli Energy Ministry, comes amid heightened regional tensions and retaliatory strikes by Tehran against US military bases in several countries.
Energean Plc, the operator of the Karish deposit, confirmed it had been instructed to suspend production.
Chevron Corp, which operates the Leviathan and Tamar fields, declined to comment on the shutdowns on Saturday. While Karish supplies the domestic Israeli market, Leviathan and Tamar are critical for fuel exports.
This suspension mirrors actions taken in June last year when Israel shut down its largest gas field, Leviathan, along with Karish, following previous hostilities with Iran.
The recurring disruptions highlight the vulnerability of regional energy routes at a time when the risk of a wider war threatens global energy supplies.
The halt is expected to significantly impact Egypt, which became a net gas importer in 2024.
Under a $35 billion deal struck last year, Leviathan is contracted to supply Egypt with 130 billion cubic metres of gas between 2026 and 2040, including approximately 4.5 billion cubic metres annually.
Although Cairo has secured liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreements through 2028, Israeli gas remains a cheaper alternative. Previous disruptions in June forced the Egyptian government to suspend supplies to various industries, including fertiliser producers.
