The geologist and protest groups asked the Antitrust Authority to take parts of Leviathan away from Noble Energy and Delek.
Geologist Dr. Joseph (Yossi) Langotsky proposes splitting up the giant Leviathan gas field into several licenses and producing natural gas separately and independently from each of them. Langostsky, considered the father of Israel's offshore deep water gas exploration, made the comments in a statement as part of a campaign against compromise arrangements on alleged cartel behavior.
Knesset Members Shelly Yachimovich (Labor) and Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) and a long list of organizations today filed objections with Antitrust Authority director David Gilo to enforce an agreed order against Noble Energy Inc. (NYSE: NBL) and Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG). The protestors are demanding that the regulator require Noble Energy and Delek controlling shareholder Yitzhak Tshuva to sell their rights in the Leviathan prospect, or split them between several consortia.
Langotsky wrote in a statement filed by the Movement for Quality Government objecting to the arrangements between Noble Energy and Delek, and the Antitrust Authority, "The significance of the extensive size of the Leviathan gas field as well as the fact that it is divided up into several sub-fields means that it can be split up to completely separate operating units with gas produced independently from each one of them. It seems that there is no geological or engineering reason preventing the production of gas from each part of separate fields."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 26, 2014
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