1. Crude Oil
Israel relies heavily on imported crude oil for refining into fuels. The largest suppliers include:
-
Azerbaijan (via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and tankers)
-
Kazakhstan (shipped via tankers)
-
Iraq (indirectly via third-party traders)
-
Russia (previously a major supplier, but imports have decreased due to geopolitical issues)
-
West Africa (Nigeria, Angola, and others via tankers)
Delivery Method:
-
Almost all crude oil arrives via oil tankers at Israel’s two main ports: Ashdod (for the Ashdod Refinery) and Haifa (for the Bazan Group refineries).
2. Coal
Israel still uses coal for some electricity generation, though it is being phased out in favor of natural gas. Major suppliers include:
-
Colombia (largest supplier)
-
South Africa
-
United States
-
Australia
Delivery Method:
-
Coal is shipped via bulk cargo vessels to the Hadera and Ashkelon ports, where it is transported to power plants.
3. Natural Gas (Historically Imported, Now Mostly Domestic)
Israel used to import natural gas via pipelines from Egypt, but since discovering its own offshore gas fields (Tamar, Leviathan, Karish), it has become a net exporter. However, in times of high demand or infrastructure constraints, Israel may still import LNG (liquefied natural gas).
Past/Potential Suppliers:
-
Egypt (via the Arish-Ashkelon pipeline, though flows have been unreliable due to political and contractual disputes)
-
Global LNG markets (via floating storage and regasification units, or FSRUs, in emergencies)
Delivery Method:
-
Pipeline (from Egypt) or LNG tankers (if imported from global markets).
4. Diesel & Refined Products (Minor Imports)
While Israel produces most of its refined fuels domestically, it sometimes imports:
-
Diesel (from Europe, mainly Greece and Italy)
-
Jet Fuel (occasional imports from Asia and Europe)
Delivery Method:
-
Oil tankers to Haifa and Ashdod ports.
Key Energy Infrastructure in Israel:
-
Haifa & Ashdod Refineries – Process crude oil into fuels.
-
Tamar & Leviathan Gas Fields – Supply most of Israel’s natural gas needs.
-
FSRU in Hadera – Allows LNG imports if needed.
-
Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline – Historically transported Iranian oil (pre-1979), now used for Azerbaijani and other oil.
