Israel's Defense Ministry and Israel Electric Corp will draw up a plan within two months to provide security for LNG vessels that will unload at a floating terminal being built off the country's Mediterranean coast, IEC and Defense Ministry sources said Tuesday.
The offshore FLNG terminal, due to begin operations at the end of this year, will be declared a strategic site and receive the highest level of security, the sources said.
The Defense Ministry has proposed that a security detail be stationed at all times at the terminal and that radar be installed to pick up suspicious movements.
In addition, the state-owned utility has been instructed to have a tug boat available around the clock to deal with any emergency with the regasification tankers at the offshore terminal. Israeli security sources have said the various security scenarios have to be taken into account, including a terrorist or rocket attack on the terminal.
Italy's Micoperi Marine Contractors was awarded the contract for planning, production and construction of the FLNG terminal 11 kilometers off the coast of Hadera. The IEC is in talks with Excelerate Energy Inc for the delivery of LNG supplies on board its tankers.
The Israel Navy has been put in overall charge of protecting the offshore rigs and natural gas infrastructure off Israel's Mediterranean coast. The Israel Air Force has also stepped up operations in the area.
Israel and Cyprus recently signed a cooperation agreement on defending the offshore rigs and gas infrastructure. However, the FLNG terminal now under construction adds a new dimension to the security plan.
LNG imports are expected to at least partially meet local demand until the huge Tamar field begins commercial production in mid-2013.
