The Israeli flag was hauled down over Abu Rodeis today and the last Israeli soldiers were gone by noon, ending eight years of Israeli administration of the largest Sinai oilfields. Italian technicians will operate the oil wells for the next few days pending the formal Egyptian take-over later this week. Yesterday, the last oil pumped by Israeli technicians — 60,000 tons of crude oil–was loaded aboard the tanker Leyon.
Israel’s orderly withdrawal today was in compliance with the interim accord signed with Egypt last. September. Earlier this month, Israeli forces pulled out of Ras Sudar, a smaller oilfield on the Gulf of Suez north of Abu Rodeis. Egypt now controls 150 kilometers of the eastern shores of the Gulf of Suez, including the two major oil producing centers. Israel retains a 120-kilometer stretch of coast from a point south of Abu Rodeis to Sharm el-Sheikh on the Straits of Tiran.
During the last eight years since it captured the oilfields in the Six-Day War. Israel has pumped some 32 million tons of oil from the Abu Rodeis and Ras Sudar wells–about 4.6 million tons a year–which, according to the government’s advisor on fuel, Dr. Tzvi Dinstein; represented about half of Israel’s annual oil consumption over that period.
ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIES OF OIL
Dinstein observed today that every cloud has a silver lining. He said that while the evacuation of the Sinai fields deprived Israel of a vital energy source and savings of foreign currency, the fact that Israel figured as an oil producing country during the past eight years enabled it to make contacts with countries and companies that can now be used to seek alternative supplies of oil.
He said that the loss of the Sinai oil will lead to an intensification of oil prospecting in Israel proper and in other areas of Sinai still retained by Israel. Dinstein mentioned specifically the region south of Abu Rodeis and the sea-bed between El Arish and Rafah which may contain oil. He said projects were underway to set up 1o more oil rigs to explore for oil on Israeli territory.
Meanwhile, Israel is assured of a supply of oil for next year at prices set by OPEC (Organization of Oil Producing and Exporting Countries) which will not be increased until next June. Israel has also managed to add to its list of oil suppliers. The most serious problem, however, is that Israel’s foreign currency expenditures for fuel will double. It is expected to amount to $650 million in 1976, Dinstein said. “We have learned our lesson and will set up without delay a special energy authority to start an intensive oil exploration program,” the government official added.
The operation of the Abu Rodeis fields by Egypt will require continued cooperation with Israel, it was pointed out today, Israel still controls the wells supplying water to Abu Rodeis while Egypt will now control the electric generators that provide power to pump the water the Egyptians need. A set of rules is expected to be worked out for the mutual benefit of both parties.
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