Development of three recently discovered natural gas fields—Tamar, Dalit, and Leviathan (see Figure 1 )—is projected to begin at the end of 2012 and be completed by the end of the decade. The estimated supplies from these fields (see Table 1 ) would enable Israel to decrease its natural gas and coal imports and possibly its oil imports. Israel's trade balance would likely improve and its carbon dioxide emissions would likely decline as a result. Regionally, Israel's success thus far has sparked interest from its neighbors to explore their boundaries for energy resources and has raised concerns from Lebanon about sovereignty over the discoveries. Noble Energy's other natural gas discoveries (Tamar and Dalit) coupled with the success of other companies puts Israel in a position to be self sufficient in natural gas and possibly become a natural gas exporter, thus improving the country's energy and economic security. If only half the natural gas from the new discoveries is produced at today's production levels, Israel would have well over a 100-year supply of natural gas. Electricity Generation Sector Likely to be Transformed

Israel's electricity generation sector will most likely undergo the greatest change because of the development of Israel's natural gas resources. Currently, natural gas fuels about 26% of Israel's electric generation.
Israel has been dependent on energy imports since it became a nation in 1948, but the recent offshore natural gas discoveries could change that and possibly make Israel an exporter of natural gas. Development of the recently discovered natural gas fields—Tamar, Dalit, and Leviathan—likely will decrease Israel's needs for imported natural gas, imported coal, and possibly imported oil. A switch to natural gas would most likely affect electric generation, but could also improve Israel's trade balance and lessen carbon dioxide emissions. Regionally, Israel's success thus far has sparked interest from its neighbors to explore their boundaries for energy resources and has raised concerns from Lebanon about sovereignty over the discoveries. Development of these new resources, and possibly other discoveries, would enhance Israel's economic and energy security. Israel is in the early stages of formulating the regulatory framework to oversee the development of these resources and may seek assistance from the United States or other natural gas producing countries in weighing its options.
Key Points:
The new discoveries—depending upon the actual production—could represent over 200 years' worth of Israel's current natural gas consumption. Israel's electrical generation sector will likely be the beneficiary of the new natural gas resources. Additional natural gas and possibly oil resources may exist.