The discovery of large natural gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean has increased competition over maritime boundaries and offshore energy resources between neighboring countries. The region has overlapping exclusive economic zones under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fueling disputes like those between Israel and Lebanon over an 850 km2 gas-rich area. New gas finds off Cyprus and Israel, and potential pipeline projects connecting their resources to Europe, have also exacerbated tensions due to competing territorial claims.

1. The Mediterranean battles for natural gas
Selim Stahl, 5th May 2014
This is a translation of Arte Geopolitical Show ”Le dessous des cartes”

2. The recent discovery of large gas fields in the eastern
Mediterranean stirs the appetites of neighboring countries and
exacerbate rivalries. This study is about the political and
economic consequences of these findings, which could make the
Mediterranean sea the new Eldorado for natural gas.

3. The Mediterranean Sea is semi-enclosed by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Dardanelles and the
Suez Canal. It has a maximum width of 1 600 km and minimum of about 13 km at the Strait of
Gibraltar. Twenty-three neighboring countries share this space, all entitled to have areas of
sovereignty.
THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA, A SPACE TO SHARE

4. The Law of the Sea, governed by the Convention of Montego Bay (1982), is cutting the maritime space in
several areas, in which a State has more or less important rights. One of them is the exclusive economic
zone (EEZ), which extends up to 200 nautical miles off the coast of a country. The State has there
sovereign rights for exploration and exploitation of the waters, seabed and underground resources.
SHARING MARINE SPACE UNDER THE LAW OF THE SEA

5. On this map, we understand that there is not enough room in the Mediterranean Sea for all its
twenty-three countries to have their own EEZ. Some maritime areas overlap, like between
France, the Balearics or Sardinia, or those of Egypt and Cyprus. This situation is likely to
create disputes between States. And indeed, there are many disputes.
SHARING MARINE AREAS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

6. Some of offshore gas fields were discovered in the 2000s, offshore Israel. According to some
estimate, the total gas potential of Israel could be up to 1500 billion cubic meters (BCM). These
findings offer energy independence to Israel, possible exports of gas and the ability to protect
itself against potential energy boycotts that some neighboring Arab states may enforce. But
this gas also encourages the emergence of new tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
GAS FIELDS IN THE ISRAELI EEZ

7. Lebanon has never recognized the State of Israel. The two countries have therefore never agreed on their
land border, even though the UN has established a boundary between the two countries called the Blue
Line. No recognized maritime border exist. You can see on this map the claims of Lebanon and those of
Israel concerning their EEZ. The 2 countries compete for a 850 km ² area in which there could be natural
gas. In 2011, Lebanon filed a motion for the UN’s judgment on the borders but the UN declared itself
incompetent.
MARITIME CLAIMS OF ISRAEL AND LEBANON

8. Along the coast of the Gaza Strip the natural gas resources are estimated to 30 - 40 BCM, this is a
financial resource for a Palestinian Authority close to bankruptcy. But the Israeli authorities want to put
their conditions: Hamas should not profit from the revenues, Palestinian gas must be connected to the
pipeline that connects the cities of Ashkelon and El-Arish and finally, Israel must be the primary client and
acquire Palestinian gas at a preferential price.
GAS RESOURCES OF PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

9. Gas was also discovered in recent years offshore Cyprus, particularly in the field of Aphrodite. The island
of Cyprus is divided between two political entities fighting for the control of the entire island and are
unable to agree on how to exploit the offshore resources.
THE DIVIDE OF CYPRUS AND THE NATURAL GAS ISSUE

10. Greece also has initiated offshore surveys at the end of 2011. Some estimates put the reserves of the
Ionian Sea at 22 billion barrels of oil and northern Aegean Sea to 4 billion barrels. Finally, Crete may have
4000 BCM of gas which would generate income for the Greek government of €400 billion over twenty-five
years.
THE GAS RESOURCES OF GREECE

11. The recent discovery of natural gas in Israel, Cyprus and Greece as well as common interests around
energy between these three countries favored a rapprochement between them. So they are considering
the construction of a submarine pipeline to export their gas, especially to other European countries,
anxious to diversify and secure their energy supplies.
THE PIPELINE PROJECT BETWEEN ISRAEL, CYPRUS AND GREECE

12. Some SP Gas Services
— A part of SP's long-term investment in fuels research
 Metering of LNG
 Analysis of natural gas & biogas composition
 Life Cycle Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment
of alternative fuels like LNG, BioLNG, BioSNG etc
 Fire Safety Analysis of LNG refueling systems
 Research into the durability of natural gas pipelines
(emphasis on optimisation of materials, designs and methods
of laying, in order to minimise investment costs)

13. 6 to 12 billion bbl & 0.1 to 0.17 Tcf natural gas