Israel approves increased gas exports to Egypt amid domestic debate over energy security

Israel is set to increase natural gas exports to Egypt from the offshore Tamar field, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

"This step will increase the state’s revenue and strengthen diplomatic ties between Israel and Egypt," Katz said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The minister added that the new exports were approved after ensuring that Israel's domestic supply was guaranteed, in an apparent nod to concerns that Israel should be keeping its gas reserves for its own use.

Despite discovering huge gas deposits on the Mediterranean coast, Israel has imposed limits on exports to ensure the country's future energy security.

However, public advocacy groups have warned that heightened offshore activity and increased demand are threatening Israel's future supplies. Israel's budget director also recently warned that exports could endanger energy security. 

Last year, Israel produced 21.29 billion cubic meters (bcm; 751.85 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, with just 9.21 bcm (325.25 billion cubic feet) of it exported, according to Reuters. Egypt and Jordan were the two beneficiaries of the exports.

Egypt has struggled to meet growing demand from its population of 105 million, and has seen a decline in its gas production this year.