By SHARON UDASIN 07/27/2014 Sunday’s approval occurred followed a recent authorization in June to move forward with the program from the National Council for Planning and Building. The Ministerial Committee on Interior Affairs, Services and Local Government unanimously approved on Sunday a plan for transporting natural gas from additional future terminals to the country’s transmission […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 07/29/2014 Panel members recommend setting a uniform royalty rate on all natural resources of 5%, to remain consistent with global standards. Adam Teva V’Din (Israel Union for Environmental Defense) and the Movement for Quality Government on Monday slammed the Sheshinski 2 for taking a conservative stance with regards to the country’s natural […]

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Ryan Stultz| The Daily Star BEIT MERY, Lebanon: Better known for the capital’s glittering nightlife and exclusive beach clubs, Lebanon is launching a new, ambitious strategy to promote something entirely different: rural tourism. “We need to begin marketing not just the country – but destinations” within Lebanon, Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon said Thursday night at […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Jul 27, 2014 | 23:11 AMMAN — Work is currently under way to link households with no access to wastewater services in Madaba Governorate to the sewage network, a government official said on Sunday. Implementation of the project started this week, the Water Ministry official said, noting that the sewage network […]

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Stuart Schoenfeld While the eyes and ears of the world were focused on bombs, rockets, civilian casualties, tunnels and fire-fights, I have been following a different kind of Middle East news. Here are some news reports just from the last week or so: • Zafrir Rinat reported in Haaretz on the steady decline of Mediterranean […]

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Middle East Report 271 Summer 2014 FUEL AND WATER: THE COMING CRISES Demand for fuel and water in the Middle East is rapidly increasing. Populations are growing, as are expectations of middle-class levels of consumption. Supplies of fuel and water are finite, however, and renewable water reserves are dwindling fast. The summer issue of Middle […]

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At TheMarker’s Energy Conference, Israeli exec sees future for Israeli gas exports, but adds: exports to Palestinians, Jordan ‘would be philanthropy.’ By Ora Coren | Jul. 24, 2014 Israel’s vast new natural gas reserves could break the diplomatic and commercial ice between Israel and its neighbors, but Jerusalem might still need an accommodation with the […]

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Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) today announced that all service stations in the Enoc/Eppco network are now providing the ultra-low sulphur ‘Green Diesel.’ This follows the UAE Federal Cabinet decree aimed at raising the UAE’s standards of diesel fuel from 500ppm to 10ppm, whereby all commercial diesel vehicles and equipment motorists are to use the […]

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Two stories: Minister: No magic solutions for water, electricity – Daily Star Sign of things to come as wellspring village dries up – Daily Star Minister: No magic solutions for water, electricity – Daily Star BEIRUT: Water and Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian said Lebanon’s chronic power and water problems are accumulated over many years, stressing […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 07/24/2014 “We hope that the drilling will bear fruit and lead Israel to energy and security independence,” a statement from the company said. Green-lighting plans that remain contentious among environmentalists and area residents, the Northern District Committee for Planning and Building approved on Thursday a program for exploratory oil drilling in the […]

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by Mohammad Ghazal | Jul 24, 2014 AMMAN — Jordan on Thursday awarded a contract to Spanish engineering firm Elecnor to build a 65-75 megawatt wind power plant in the southern region. The $112 million power plant — which will be located in Maan, some 220km south of Amman — is expected to be operational […]

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A new invention that is already being tested in some desert areas is able to extract clean drinking water from the air using a wind turbine. A company called Eole Water has implemented this wonderful invention in areas of the Abu Dhabi desert. Tests on a ground-mounted prototype of the water making system has shown […]

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A new “eco-mosque” that seeks LEED silver certification has recently opened in Dubai. Designed to set an example for other mosques and local residents, the Port Saeed mosque can accommodate 3,500 worshippers. In addition to solar-powered water and solar-powered exterior lighting, the facility is equipped with a lot of low energy LED lights attached to […]

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Experts warn of ‘catastrophic’ consequences as power, water, and medical facilities struggle to cope under bombing. Mohammed Omer Last updated: 20 Jul 2014 When Umm Ali Abu Sada visits her kitchen, she can see her refrigerator is leaking. Its melting contents mix with blood from a kilo of frozen meat and flow onto the floor […]

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Friends of the Earth Middle East The following are short briefs that describe several cross border environment and or water “Pollution Havens” that are being “Held Hostage” to the conflict and need urgent solutions, lest they become acute public health issues in the near future. For links to each see http://foeme.org/www/?module=projects&record_id=233 Environment Held Hostage – […]

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‘There is no room left for optimism with regard to future yields,’ note researchers, whose numbers show fishermen are emptying the sea without leaving a younger generation of fish to reproduce. By Zafrir Rinat | Jul. 14, 2014 A variety of fish stocks across the Mediterranean Sea are being rapidly depleted due to overfishing. If […]

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3 articles The well is the way to go for Lebanon water crisis Wondering why the taps are running dry? ‘This is Lebanon’ ‘If you love me, save me some water,’ conservation drive says The well is the way to go for Lebanon water crisis Rayane Abou Jaoude| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Lebanon has ruled […]

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by Alejandro Litovsky | Jul 20, 2014 The proclamation of a new Cold War, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, turned out to be alarmist and premature. However, it reflected the anxiety of today’s decision makers in the face of a crumbling global order. With emerging economies far from committed to established norms in international relations, […]

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HAARETZ The 2.2 billion plastic bags Israelis use every year take centuries to degrade; Economy Ministry opposes bill. By Zafrir Rinat, Ora Coren and Avi Bar-Eli | Jul. 15, 2014 The coalition will support a bill banning stores from giving out free plastic bags, in an effort to minimize the environmental damage caused by the […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 07/13/2014 Leviathan, located about 130 kilometers west of Haifa, expected to come online in 2017; reservoir’s stakeholders reviewing export options. The Leviathan reservoir likely contains 16 percent more natural gas than previously estimated, the basin’s stakeholders reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange on Sunday. A recent assessment conducted by international oil […]

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