Shea Levin — text status

Energy Minister Eli Cohen granted six natural gas exploration licenses in Israel's offshore Cluster G to American energy company Murphy Oil and Israel's Ratio Energies, with each holding 50 percent and Murphy serving as operator. "My policy is to expand natural gas exploration, bring international energy giants to invest in Israel, and increase natural gas output for the local economy and for export," Cohen said. Murphy is replacing Italian giant Eni, which pulled out. The companies committed to seismic surveys and new exploratory drilling across six licenses in Israel's economic waters.