The proposed pipeline project linking Israel’s offshore Leviathan gas field with Egypt’s LNG export terminals has evolved into a broader regional gas export corridor. Originally announced in February 2021 to increase gas deliveries from the Chevron-operated Leviathan field to the Idku and Damietta LNG plants in northern Egypt, the project has since been complemented by multiple infrastructure upgrades across Israel and Egypt.
In 2025, Leviathan partners signed a landmark US$35 billion gas supply agreement with Egypt through 2040. This triggered a major expansion of the Leviathan field and associated transmission infrastructure.
In 2026, Chevron and its partners reached a final investment decision (FID) on the Leviathan expansion. They also completed a third subsea pipeline that has increased field production capacity to approximately 15.8 bcm per year and commissioned additional pipeline upgrades in southern Israel. The upgrades are expected to remove export bottlenecks and enable significantly higher gas flows into Egypt.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched its fifth offshore gas tender and licensing round aimed at discovering additional gas resources to support future exports, while the planned second phase of exports will ultimately depend on the completion of a new transmission pipeline via Nitzana connecting Israel with Egypt’s gas network.
Despite a temporary shutdown during the Israel-Iran conflict earlier in 2026, Leviathan has resumed production. The overall project also remains central to transforming Egypt’s LNG terminals into an export gateway for Eastern Mediterranean gas to European and global markets.
Leviathan-Egypt Gas Export Pipeline and LNG Project Factsheet
Original announcement: February 2021
Location: Offshore Israel, Mediterranean Sea, Israel-Egypt gas corridor
Project type: Offshore gas export pipeline and transmission expansion
2026 project status: Under phased expansion and network upgrades
Operator of Leviathan: Chevron Mediterranean Limited
Gas field: Leviathan
Primary destination: Egyptian national gas network and LNG export terminals
Receiving LNG terminals:
- Idku LNG Terminal
- Damietta LNG Terminal
Current 2026 developments:
- Leviathan expansion reached Final Investment Decision (FID)
- Third subsea pipeline completed
- Production capacity increased to approximately 15.8 bcm/year
- Southern Israel transmission upgrades underway
- Additional export capacity to Egypt being commissioned
- Future Nitzana cross-border transmission pipeline planned for second export phase
- Long-term gas export agreement with Egypt extends through 2040
New pipeline to connect Leviathan gas field and LNG terminals in Israel and Egypt
Reported February 26, 2021 – Leviathan gas field & LNG terminals in Israel & Egypt respectively will soon be connected. This is after the governments of Israel and Egypt represented by Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and Egypt Minister of Petroleum & Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla agreed to build a pipeline to connect the Leviathan natural gas field offshore Israel to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in northern Egypt, as part of a plan to expand the development of east Mediterranean natural gas.
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“The two ministers have agreed on the construction of an offshore gas pipeline from the Leviathan gas field to the liquefaction facilities in Egypt in order to increase the gas exports to Europe through the liquefaction facilities in Egypt,” said the office of Steinitz in a statement.
Overview of the Leviathan gas field
The Leviathan gas field is located approximately 130km off Israel’s coast. It exports gas to Jordan and Egypt and supplies the Israeli domestic market.
It is operated by Noble Energy, an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with a 39.66% stake in the field. Delek Group’s subsidiaries Delek Drilling and Avner Oil Exploration each hold a 22.67% stake, while Ratio Oil Exploration owns 15% interest in the field.
Efforts to expand the field
In an effort to expand the field, the project partners have been considering options, including a floating LNG facility and a subsea pipeline.
The facility would be connected with LNG terminals. These will either be idled or run at less than their potential capacity in the North African country. Additionally, the latter has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the Gaza Marine field. The field is located approximately 30km off the Palestinian enclave’s coast with the Leviathan gas field partners.
The Gaza Marine field project is planned to be developed by the Palestine Investment Fund, the sovereign fund of the Palestinian Authority, and the Consolidated Contractors Company.
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