The ongoing crisis between Turkey and Russia, Israel's displeasure with Russia's support for Shiite militant group Hezbollah, Netanyahu's recent statements saying that high-level talks are held on the energy issue with Ankara under the shadow of the worsened relations between Israel and Egypt over the inactive gas pipeline is directly signaling towards a critical geo-political development in Eastern Mediterranean which is going to deeply influence the regional energy market in coming years.
By Rose McReid
IndraStra Global Editorial Team
The ongoing
crisis between Turkey and Russia, Israel's displeasure with Russia's support
for Shiite militant group Hezbollah, Netanyahu's recent statements saying that
high-level talks are held on the energy issue with Ankara under the shadow of the worsened
relations between Israel and Egypt over the inactive gas pipeline is directly signaling towards a critical geo-political development in Eastern Mediterranean which is going to deeply influence the regional energy market in coming years.
Image
Attribute: Tamar gas field in Mediterranean Sea / Source: Albatross Aerial
Photography
Location of Israeli Gas Fields:
The Leviathan,
the largest of the fields, is estimated to hold as much as 3.500 billion cubic
meters (BCM), which is 673 times more than Israel consumed in 2011, or 8 times
more than the whole European Union used in 2012. In an ideal scenario, one
that produces stability and economic gain, Israel could become a significant
gas exporter until the end of the decade, while Turkey might enhance its
standing as a vital energy transit station and a key regional player. But, as
it happens not only in the Eastern Mediterranean, there are several obstacles.
The majority of the discovered
gas is located within the Israeli exclusive economic zone and can be drilled
without constraints (that is why many foreign firms, with U.S. giant Noble
Energy in the forefront, have been so active in the area). Relatively minor
Mari-B field has been functioning since 2004, the real boom started with
Leviathan coming online earlier in 2013, and with Tamar, Tanin, and newly
discovered Karish went online in October 2015.
To make the exploitation
economically sensible, it desperately needs to find ways how to export the
valuable commodity (up to 50% of total production should go to export.)
Four Available Options with Israel:
First Option, Israel
could built its own LNG terminal near the city of Eilat and then deliver the
gas on tankers through the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, or through Gulf of
Aqaba and Gulf of Aden to lucrative South-East Asian markets. Nevertheless,
construction of such terminal is an extremely expensive venture and represents
an attractive target for a potential terrorist attack.
Second Option,
Israel considers a joint pipeline construction with Cyprus and Greece. While
such option might bring a relatively cheap and quick solution, it seriously limits
size of the final export markets as it excludes Asian Markets. Furthermore,
cooperation of Israel with Cyprus would gravely infuriate and alienate Turkey,
for Israel strategically more important than Cyprus.
Third option
would be to construct a pipeline to Jordan where Israel could silently connect
to the existing infrastructure and transport Israeli gas further to otherwise
hostile countries in the region. Given political realities and general
hostility towards Israel, added with vulnerability of an on-surface pipeline,
this possibility is the least likely one.
Fourth Option, A pipeline that could be built between Turkey and Israel seems to be a cheaper and more feasible option as the distance of the project is about 500 kilometers, which is less than half the distance of the Cyprus option, and it is estimated that this project may cost only $2 billion. After reaching Turkey, Israeli gas could connect the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which is still under construction, and by this means, up to 10 billion cubic meters of Israeli gas could be sold to Europe annually.
The Turkish Option:
Turkey, a
country with no direct access to the discovered fields, but with great
political leverage and even greater motivation, will inevitably the decisive
player in the unfolding game of regional gas. Potential successful wide
collaboration with Israel and other countries in the region, notably Cyprus and
Greece, could well redraw the political map of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Given Turkish
lack of its own energy resources, it has to import over 90% of its oil
consumption and almost 100% of its rapidly growing natural gas needs. Having
Russia and Iran as the major providers, Turkey is eager to diversify its
portfolio of suppliers. But Turkish major ambition derives from its
geopolitically strategic position; it is keen to become a true energy hub, a
center which connects commodity-rich East and hungry-for-energy west. This
clearly definable interests – to participate in transportation of gas from the
Eastern Mediterranean – together with Turkey´s political regional ambitions,
put the country into an uneasy role and shrew the regional gas exploitation in
uncertainty.
A gas field,
Leviathan located in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Israel, was
discovered in December 2010. In November 2014 Israel proposed that EU countries
invest in the under-sea pipeline from Israel to Cyprus then to Crete and
mainland Greece where the gas would then be shipped overland to other European
countries. It is estimated that the project will cost more than $10 billion.
Furthermore, unlike the undersea pipelines that run from Russia to Germany
under the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea, this project has to cross the deep
Mediterranean, which can sometimes reach 2,000 meters. Therefore, commercial
and technical realities have raised doubts over the project. However, there
is still a Fourth Option, a pipeline to Turkey. Notwithstanding prevailing differences between the
two key regional actors, a close cooperation with Turkey remains both
strategically and economically very attractive for Israeli policy makers.
To replace the
Russian Gas Network, Ankara simply needs to demonstrate that it is capable of
promoting its vital interests in the region; previously it strongly opposed any
exploitation until diplomatic disputes with Israel and notably Cyprus will have
been solved. But so far, Turkish opposition seems to have very little impact.
Israeli largest field came online earlier in 2013 and Cyprus has announced its
final decision to individually construct a LNG plant and start exporting its
gas around 2020. Being left out of the game when all cards are had been played,
would be a major blow not only to Turkey´s strategic long-term interests, but
also to its reputation.
Bound by NATO
membership and facing the EU Member Cyprus and U.S. ally Israel, diplomacy
remains the only instrument at Turks´ disposal. Normalization of Turkish
relations with Israel in March 2013 was the first step towards future
cooperation in gas exportation.
While Turkey
is dependent on Israeli will (or need) to engage it, Netanyahu´s government has
a pallet of options how to export its redundant gas. Unfortunately, or perhaps
luckily for Turkey, each possibility contains severe challenges.
A stable and
long-term partnership in gas exportation (or even exploitation) between Israel
and Turkey would significantly increase security of the region in the medium
and long run.
Through
building a seabed pipeline, Israel could get access to a developed and wide
Turkish gas infrastructure which redistributes gas to many markets.
Simultaneously, increasing gas volumes flowing through Turkey would further
strengthen Ankara´s ambition to become a hub. Although surrounding Muslim
countries might not welcome such partnership, Turkey could easily satisfy all
anti-Israeli sentiments by occasional criticism of the Jewish state and by
stressing the “pure economic nature” of the cooperation.
Construction
and administration of a pipeline would require regular joint high-level
consultations and meetings. These would inevitably lead the two regional powers
to discuss also long-standing regional issues, including status of Palestine,
post-Arab spring development, armament, and other key security questions.
Connected by pipeline, Turkey and Israel could gradually find themselves
tightened closer to each other than ever before.
Should, on the
other hand, Turkey fail to attract Israel (or Cyprus, which is extremely
unlikely) to cooperation and thus remain outside of the Eastern Mediterranean
gas bonanza, the most probable result would be an increase in tension in the
region.
True, Turkey
would not be willing to resort to military means to deter any Israeli or
Cypriot exploitation. But if Turkey would openly declare that it is not willing
to tolerate any unilateral Cypriot action, the tiny island country with 30 000
Turkish soldiers stationed on its northern part would find itself in a very
precarious position. Israel would then remain greatly isolated, with a lot of
gas but only a small market and with no Turkish nor Cypriot export routes.
In such a
scenario, strained relations would widen gaps between individual states in the
region. Israel would stand alone, especially if Palestine and perhaps Lebanon
would succeed to get closer to Turkey in their common cause of opposing any
drilling until being granted a stake at the profitable venture.
Influential Factor #1 : Worsened Relations Between Israel and Egypt
Egypt has been
a major gas exporter to Israel but suffers from insecurity and instability
since Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi took over power after overthrowing Egypt's first
democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi. The pipeline between Israel
and Egypt has been attacked dozens of times by the DAESH-linked extremists in
Sinai and has been put out of action.
The crisis between the countries
deteriorated as Haaretz reported on Sunday "Cairo ordered two state-owned
companies to freeze talks on importing Israeli gas and would issue no import
permits after international arbitrators ordered the companies to pay $1.76
billion compensation to the Israel Electric Corporation for halting gas
supplies three years ago." The Israel Electric Corporation sued Egyptian
General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company
(EGAS) for as many as $4 billion in damages and claimed that the company had
been obliged to buy more expensive fuel to produce electricity.
Israeli media
claimed that the country lost 18 percent of its electricity generated from gas
although Egypt rejected the claims. The worsening relations between Egypt and
Israel may pave the way for accelerating TANAP.
Influential Factor #2: Worsened Relations Between Turkey and Russia
Turkey relies
on Russia for $20 billion of natural gas every year. If that flow is even slightly altered, even
for a single day—Turkey will grind to a halt.
That natural gas engines Turkey’s electric grid.
Gas is next.
Russia will start pulling it sooner or later. They have
already canceled work on the underwater gas pipeline which, together with the
nuclear electric plants, would eventually make Turkey more energy independent.
Turkey cannot
get that much gas replaced. They are in
public conflict not only with Russia but also with alternative suppliers. They sided with the Muslim Brotherhood so
Egypt will not supply them. They have
been very aggressively critical of Saudi Arabia so they will not supply them. There is always Israel and Israel could,
potentially, help supply Turkey’s natural gas needs by feedings it's own to existing TANAP.
Conclusion:
The energy
issue seemed to be the only common ground for Israeli and Turkish interests but
the war in Syria may also help the two countries open a new era.
Turkish-Russian relations entered a new phase after Turkey shot down a Russian
jet that violated Turkish airspace couple of weeks ago. Turkey and Russia have been
in a rift over the Syrian war as Russia, along with Iran, staunchly supports
Bashar Assad and Lebanon-based Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which is
considered a terrorist organization by Israel.
It is but obvious, the common threats
and mutual economic interests may change the fate of Turkish-Israeli relations
and the appointment of new Chief of Mossad, Yossi Cohen might play a significant role during the amendment process. The
relations that broke down after Israel raided a Turkish aid flotilla in
international waters and killed 10 Turkish nationals one of whom was holding
also an American passport, in 2010, may enter into a new phase after a stagnant
period.
Reporting from E-IR and Daily Sabah Diplomacy
