TEL AVIV: Israel will resume its natural gas exports when the country鈥檚 military believes it would be safe to do so, Israel鈥檚 Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday, as an air battle between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day.

Two of Israel鈥檚 three gas fields 鈥� Chevron-operated Leviathan and Energean鈥檚 Karish 鈥� off its Mediterranean coast that provide the bulk of exports to Egypt and Jordan, have been shut since June 13 amid the conflict between Israel and Iran.

That leaves in operation only the older Tamar field, used mainly for domestic supplies.

Cohen said he has been in contact with Egypt and Jordan about the cut in supplies.

鈥淭hey can see that we are in a war. I don鈥檛 want to use our strategic storage, so therefore, I needed to cut exports,鈥� Cohen told Reuters after a news briefing.

鈥淚 hope I will be able to use another rig as soon as possible and use it for the supply of gas (exports). For me, the most important thing is (supplying) Israel,鈥� he said, alluding to fueling needs during the conflict with Iran.

It wasn鈥檛 clear when another gas field will be reopened, Cohen said, noting: 鈥淲e are working with them [the military], the Navy, and right now their recommendation is that one (field) will continue to work and two will be shut down.鈥�

Israeli gas accounts for about 15-20 percent of Egypt鈥檚 consumption, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) shows. The disruption to Israel鈥檚 gas supply led Egyptian fertilizer producers to halt operations on Friday.

Israel launched the air war on Iran on Friday after concluding the latter was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes.

OTHER ENERGY SOURCES
Israel鈥檚 energy sector, Cohen said, was operating normally, with no shortages expected since the country also maintains reserves in coal, diesel and renewable energy.

Israel鈥檚 Oil Refineries in Haifa was hit by an Iranian missile this week, which killed three people and halted operations.

Cohen said he hoped the facility would resume operations within a month, though a second refinery in the south remains open.

Since Friday, the percentage of renewable, or solar, energy used in electricity production has more than doubled to some 40 percent, Cohen said.

There was also some damage to wastewater treatment facilities and pipelines from Iranian air strikes.

Cohen acknowledged that victory against Iran could take weeks but Israel鈥檚 energy demands could be met.

鈥淎lthough the Iranians struck some of our plants, we have very strong energy facilities that can supply all the energy demands for Israeli citizens and the army, in fuel, gas, electricity and water.鈥�