The Ministry of Development officially warned the country today that there is still no certainty whether drilling in the Gan Yavneh area of the coastal plain will produce oil or natural gas in commercial quantities. The Ministry’s statement was issued in the wake of a country-wide excitement which developed after an explosion rocked the site of one of the drillings in the Gan Yavneh area.
Work on the well has been suspended until heavier drilling tools could be obtained. The Ministry announcement said that seismic investigations recently carried out in the area point to the possible existence of formations containing gas or oil. Spokesmen for various oil companies operating in the area are optimistic that oil exists, but are uncertain as to its commercial possibilities.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.