Israel's offshore in search of regulatory shake-up
The country's latest licensing round failed to lure IOCs to its upstream
Twice delayed, Israel's offshore licensing round for 24 blocks closed on 15 November. It was a disappointment: the only submissions were from Greece's Energean, and a consortium of four large Indian corporations: ONGC Videsh, Bharat PetroResources, Indian Oil and Oil India. It's hard for Israel to put a brave face on it. This is the first bidding round since the granting of offshore licenses was suspended four years ago. The disheartening reality Israel has to face is that ever since the its first domestic, offshore gas discovery in 2000, the country has struggled to attract and keep investment from international oil companies. The Ministry of Energy has promised another licensing round in 2
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
