17:03 - 2.06.2026

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June 2, Fineko/abc.az. The consortium consisting of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), BP (UK) and NewMed Energy (Israel) has not yet carried out any work on the Mediterranean shelf of Israel.

ABC.AZ informs that Gordon Birrell, BP's vice president for production and operations, told about this to journalists.

"There are licenses to carry out work in Zone I in the exclusive economic zone of Israel in partnership with SOCAR and NewMed Energy. However, there is currently no activity under this project," Birrell said, adding that this is due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

To begin work in Zone I, SOCAR, BP and NewMed Energy signed a Joint Operation Agreement on December 22, 2025, defining the mutual rights and obligations of the parties within the framework of work on the licensed areas.