Kerogen Capital has committed to invest an initial US$50 million in Energean Israel, a subsidiary of Energean Oil & Gas, ahead of the planned $1.3 billion development of the Karish and Tanin gas fields, offshore Israel, Energean announced in a statement released today.

Energean Israel is the operator of and holds a 100% interest in each of the Karish and Tanin licences, acquired from Delek Group in December 2016, for an upfront consideration of $40mm as well as $108.5mm in contingent payments.

Proceeds from Kerogen’s investment in Energean Israel will finance the acquisition and key workstreams including FEED studies and the Field Development Plan currently being prepared in cooperation with TechnipFMC.

The fields contain at least 2.4 Tcf of Gas contingent resources (NSAI report), and will be developed through a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, the  first to be installed and operated in the East Mediterranean. The gas produced from the fields will supply Israel’s growing domestic gas market, with first gas expected in 2020.

Kerogen’s investment is subject to approval by the Israeli government, after which Kerogen will own a 50% interest in Energean Israel with Energean holding the balance. It is intended that Roy Franklin OBE, Kerogen Executive Board Member, will become Non Executive Chairman of Energean Israel.

Energean Group Chairman & CEO, Mr. Mathios Rigas, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Kerogen to the Karish and Tanin project, planned to deliver gas to a rapidly growing market in 2020 for the benefit of Israeli domestic consumers and the economy. Energean has already commenced negotiations with potential gas consumers in Israel and is progressing rapidly the Field Development Plan that we expect to submit to the Israeli Government by May, 2017 with an intention to FID the project by year end 2017. 

“We believe Israel is an attractive destination for energy investment offering exciting growth opportunities through the development of Karish and Tanin, as well as through the additional exploration potential in offshore Israel, all of which are underpinned by a supportive government policy and favorable financing environment.”

Roy Franklin, Kerogen Executive Board Member, commented: “Energean’s track record speaks for itself. The company has successfully redeveloped the Prinos complex in Greece, increasing reserves and production substantially. Kerogen intends to collaborate with Energean to deliver a successful development of the Karish and Tanin fields in Israel.

“This investment provides Kerogen with exposure to a large-scale, low break-even discovered gas resource located within an OECD country, which, as a near-term development, can benefit from today’s deflationary cost environment.”