Mediterranean energy demand 'to rise by 50 pct'

ISTANBUL

Energy consumption in the Mediterranean region will increase by 50 percent by 2040 as population and economic growth drives demand.

This was the claim made on Wednesday by Sohbet Karbuz, director of hydrocarbons at the Paris-based Mediterranean Energy Observatory.

Speaking in Istanbul at the Sixth World Forum on Energy Regulation, sponsored by Anadolu Agency, Karbuz said the increase would be felt in the southern part of the region.

The south Mediterranean countries include a diverse set of states such as Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

Karbuz said that by 2030 there would be three nuclear power plants in Egypt, Jordan and Turkey.

Energy security will push some southern Mediterranean countries to adopt coal while Algeria, Libya and Egypt have to eliminate energy waste, said Karbuz.

Israel discovered the 600 billion cubic meter Leviathan natural gas field six years ago near Haifa. The field is due to start operating in 2016 or 2017 and a proposed pipeline through Turkey would allow access to European markets for the Israeli gas.

"Israel moved from oil to natural gas in the power-generating system as the country found big natural gas reserves," Karbuz added.