Environmentalists: Oil project could kill Dead Sea
TEL AVIV — Israel is debating the feasibility of searching
for crude oil near the Dead Sea.
The project
has been opposed by environmentalists who warn of permanent damage to the
desert.
The government has been discussing a project by two companies to drill
for oil on the outskirts of the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea, Middle East Newsline reported.
The two potential contractors have been identified as Ginko Oil
Exploration and Delek Energy System. On Aug. 26, the companies briefed
Israeli environmental officials on the project.
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In 2006, Ginko discovered a small amount of crude oil near the Dead Sea.
The company, which wants to build a two-kilometer exploratory well, said the
area could contain reserves of as much as 6.5 million barrels of oil. Israel
consumes 80 million barrels per year.