MOSCOW, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - Israel intends to discuss the possibility of purchasing 2-5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from Russian energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP], the Israeli minister of national infrastructure said Thursday.
Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, currently visiting Moscow, said he hopes his meeting with the head of Gazprom later in the day will bring about a positive result.
The minister said Israel could initially purchase 2 bln cu m of gas annually, and subsequently raise the level to 5 bln cu m. The supplies could be pumped via a pipeline along the Mediterranean seabed from Turkey's Ceyhan to Israel's Ashkelon, with an offshoot to Haifa in northern Israel.
Ben-Eliezer said he hoped gas imports will be able to start in 2010-2011. The issue of building a pipeline would be decided at three-party negotiations between Israel, Russia and Turkey, he said.
