Pamboukis told Reuters he discussed the idea on a visit to Israel last week to build ties between the eastern Mediterranean states following an ice-breaking trip to Athens last year by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The Israelis have found big quantities of
offshore gas in the Mediterranean. We are trying to see how Greece could be seen as a transportation hub and a services centre, since it is on a natural road to the Balkans and Europe," he said in a weekend interview.
Pamboukis stressed he had held only exploratory discussions on transporting gas from the Leviathan field, whose discovery was announced last month, containing an estimated 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Relations between the two countries were frosty for a long period because of Greece's strong support for the Palestinians and close ties with Arab states. However, ties have warmed partly as a result of a chill between Israel and its traditional strategic partner Turkey, Greece's neighbour and historic rival.
Israel is already reported to be discussing potential cooperation on liquefied natural gas with Cyprus, a close ally of Greece. Cyprus has angered Turkey by prospecting for offshore gas in Cypriot territorial waters between the island and Israel.
source: dailyherald
