More signs we could see a bump in natgas imports from Israel: Egypt’s rising imports of natural gas from Israel’s Leviathan could help bump up the offshore field’s production and sales this year, CEO of Delek Drilling — a main operator of Leviathan — Yossi Abu told Reuters. Delek now anticipates exporting 10 bcm of gas from the field this year, after initially penciling in less than 9 bcm of exports, according to Abu. His statements come one day after Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz told the newswire that Egypt could be looking at doubling its natgas imports from Israel thanks to a planned pipeline the two countries agreed to build that will connect Leviathan to the Damietta and Idku liquefaction plants. Egypt imports gas from the Leviathan and Tamar fields under a landmark agreement signed by Alaa Arafa’s Dolphinus with Texas-based Noble Energy and Israel’s Delek Drilling.

OTHER ENERGY NEWS- Wintershall Dea signed an agreement to explore the Nile Delta's East Damanhour onshore area with Cheiron and INA, and has received approval from Oil Minister Tarek El Molla. Wintershall had initially signed the exploration agreement for the concession in February of last year.