The Tamar gas field partners plan to invest US$1.5bn to US$2bn to increase the production capacity of their offshore gas field off Israel, including the construction of a gas pipeline to Union Fenosa Gas' Damietta liquefaction plant in Egypt. In May 2014, the gas consortium and Union Fenosa Gas signed a non-binding 15-year agreement for the supply of 4.5 bcm/year of gas from the Tamar field to Damietta. Depending on the final agreement signing, the Tamar partners are considering expanding the production process network to 20.4 bcm/year with 16 bcm/year directed to the Israeli market and 4.5 bcm/year supplied to Egypt; the new gas pipeline could be commissioned in 2017.
Discovered in 2009, the Tamar gas field operated by Noble Energy (36%), in partnership with Isramco (28.75%), Avner Oil Exploration (15.625%), Delek Drilling (15.625%) and Dor Gas Exploration (4%). It has an estimated 280 bcm of gas reserves and started production in 2013. The consortium is also negotiating the supply of 1.8 bcm over 15 years to Jordan.