Murphy and Ratio Reportedly Receive Six Israeli Gas Exploration Licenses

American energy company Murphy and Israel’s Ratio have reportedly received six natural-gas exploration licenses in Cluster G in Israel’s economic waters. According to a report published November 9, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen and Petroleum Commissioner Chen Bar Yosef granted the licenses to a partnership in which each company holds 50%, with Murphy serving as operator. The companies committed to a work program that includes seismic surveys and new exploration drilling. Cohen said his policy was to expand natural-gas exploration, bring major international energy companies to invest in Israel and increase production for both the domestic market and exports, according to the report. The partnership’s composition changed following the withdrawal of Italy’s ENI. The Petroleum Council approved the revised consortium. The change was coordinated with Britain’s Dana Petroleum, which retained a commercial option to return to the licenses, subject to the necessary approvals. Separately, the council recommended changing the professional-experience requirements for the fifth competitive exploration round. Under the recommendation, experience could be assessed through the operating team’s personnel rather than solely through the operating company itself. The stated aim is to widen participation by international companies. The deadline for submitting bids in that round is January 27, 2027.