Israel approves testing procedures in disputed Karish gas field

UK-based energy company Energean announced Sunday that it had started conducting testing procedures by pumping gas to the disputed offshore Karish gas field, after receiving approval from Israel.

Israel says the Karish field in the eastern Mediterranean is located entirely within its exclusive economic zone, but Lebanon insists that part of the field falls within its own waters.

“Following approval received from Israeli Ministry of Energy to start certain testing procedures, the flow of gas from onshore to the FPSO has commenced,” the company stated.

Energean is pleased to confirm an important step in the commissioning process of the FPSO Energean Power. Following approval received from Israeli Ministry of Energy to start certain testing procedures, the flow of gas from onshore to the FPSO has commenced. pic.twitter.com/OVjHpVG3Q8

— Energean (@Energean) October 9, 2022

The move is part of reverse flow testing procedures, which is an "important step" in the commissioning process of its FPSO facility, according to the firm.

Tensions between Israel and Lebanon over Karish and their maritime boundaries have even drawn threats of war from the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

The US has been mediating indirect talks on the issue since 2020, but tensions escalated last June when Energean brought their production vessel into the gas field.

Last week, Israel rejected revisions to a draft agreement on the demarcation of the two countries' maritime borders at a critical phase of negotiations.

Energean has said its FPSO vessel is due to start production at Karish in the third quarter, and on Saturday Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was "nearing production" at the site. 

Agencies contributed to this report