Energy cos want to drill in Judean Desert

Society for the Preservation of Nature: The limited potential output of the drill sites does not justify the severe and irreversible harm to the biota and landscapes.

Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) subsidiary Delek Energy Systems Ltd. (TASE: DEOL) and Ginko Oil Exploration LP want to drill in the Judean Desert Nature Reserve, north of Road 31, which runs from Arad to the Dead Sea. The drilling is planned to reach a depth of 2,000 meters to try to locate a reservoir with the potential of 6.5 million barrels of oil.

The drilling is part of a series of drillings that Delek Energy and Ginko Oil want to conduct in the Negev, as well as new drillings at old sites where commercial quantities of oil were not previously found.

The Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel said that this part of the Judean Desert was under severe stress from development, including the laying of infrastructure conduits, a cable car, open pit quarrying, and the Shoeva power plant. Any development in the ecologically sensitive area is liable to cause significant harm to its unique biota. Development of an oil field in the nature reserve, on the plateau overlooking the Bokek River, will make it difficult to rebuff development threats to the area or save the remnants as a complete and protected unit.

The Society for the Preservation of Nature adds that the limited potential output of the drill sites does not justify a permit that would cause severe and irreversible harm to the fauna, flora, and landscapes enjoyed by visitors to the nature reserve.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 6, 2008

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008

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