Gazing out my window at the Mediterranean Sea in Haifa, I cannot help but think that about 80 miles west of my apartment lies what many believe is the key to Israel’s energy independence. Israel discovered two major natural gas fields in the Mediterranean: Tamar in 2009 and Leviathan in 2010. The Tamar field started to flow gas in March 2013 and the Leviathan field is expected to come online between 2015 and 2017. Combined, the fields hold approximately 900 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Approximately 40% of the gas is expected to be exported to Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Europe. Retaining 60% of the natural gas is supposed to make Israel energy independent.
Experts tell us that the natural gas fields hold enough gas to supply the country’s energy needs for the next 20 years. Twenty years of natural gas reserves will last about one generation. To put this in perspective, if you have a five year old today, by the time your son or daughter leaves college and enters the workforce, Israel’s energy independence could be a memory.
Although natural gas burns cleaner than petroleum, as you can see, natural gas is not a sustainable source of energy.
Currently, most of Israel’s electricity comes from coal. The nations of South Africa, Colombia, and Australia provide the majority of coal used in Israel. Israel’s oil requirements come from the North Sea region, Mexico, the Caucasus region, and Nigeria. A repeat of Operation Cast Lead, in which Israel launched an attack on Gaza to stop the rocket attacks by Hamas, could motivate these nations to stop selling Israel oil and coal.
Since 20 years is not a long time, Israelis need to know how Netanyahu and future Israeli government leaders will choose to spend the monetary surplus derived from the natural gas proceeds.
I submit that the Israeli government must invest the natural gas proceeds toward building a sustainable and renewable energy infrastructure with the private sector to support long-term solutions toward energy independence for the next seven generations and beyond.
Israel has experience with solar energy, a free and sustainable source of electricity. Approximately 90% of hot water heaters in Israel are solar powered. Ever wondered why your apartment (flat) or house is not completely powered by solar energy? Have you considered why Israeli transportation vehicles use oil rather than clean burning, renewable, and sustainable sources of fuel? Will our leaders be wise to properly invest the funds?
In future blogs, I will provide answers to these questions and outline how by using renewable and sustainable energy sources, Israel can become energy independent within the next 20 years. I plan to discuss various sustainability issues as well. Please submit your comments.
Bio:
Dr. David Blum holds a doctor of business administration degree and a master of business administration degree in sustainable business. Dr. Blum is a sustainability consultant in Haifa Israel and in the United States. Dr. Blum can be reached at david@greenwolfconsulting.com, in Israel at 052 6055960 or in the U.S. at 650.924.9303.
Experts tell us that the natural gas fields hold enough gas to supply the country’s energy needs for the next 20 years. Twenty years of natural gas reserves will last about one generation. To put this in perspective, if you have a five year old today, by the time your son or daughter leaves college and enters the workforce, Israel’s energy independence could be a memory.
Although natural gas burns cleaner than petroleum, as you can see, natural gas is not a sustainable source of energy.
Currently, most of Israel’s electricity comes from coal. The nations of South Africa, Colombia, and Australia provide the majority of coal used in Israel. Israel’s oil requirements come from the North Sea region, Mexico, the Caucasus region, and Nigeria. A repeat of Operation Cast Lead, in which Israel launched an attack on Gaza to stop the rocket attacks by Hamas, could motivate these nations to stop selling Israel oil and coal.
Since 20 years is not a long time, Israelis need to know how Netanyahu and future Israeli government leaders will choose to spend the monetary surplus derived from the natural gas proceeds.
I submit that the Israeli government must invest the natural gas proceeds toward building a sustainable and renewable energy infrastructure with the private sector to support long-term solutions toward energy independence for the next seven generations and beyond.
Israel has experience with solar energy, a free and sustainable source of electricity. Approximately 90% of hot water heaters in Israel are solar powered. Ever wondered why your apartment (flat) or house is not completely powered by solar energy? Have you considered why Israeli transportation vehicles use oil rather than clean burning, renewable, and sustainable sources of fuel? Will our leaders be wise to properly invest the funds?
In future blogs, I will provide answers to these questions and outline how by using renewable and sustainable energy sources, Israel can become energy independent within the next 20 years. I plan to discuss various sustainability issues as well. Please submit your comments.
Bio:
Dr. David Blum holds a doctor of business administration degree and a master of business administration degree in sustainable business. Dr. Blum is a sustainability consultant in Haifa Israel and in the United States. Dr. Blum can be reached at david@greenwolfconsulting.com, in Israel at 052 6055960 or in the U.S. at 650.924.9303.
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