The Israeli Finance Ministry reported that Israel's national planning and construction committee approved the route of a gas pipeline to export natural gas to Jordan.
The 15.5 kilometre (9.6 mile) stretch of pipe from the Sdom 2 gas station, will be laid near the southern end of the Dead Sea. Once operational, the underground pipeline will be able to transport gas to Jordan within a year.
The plan still requires formal approval by the cabinet but no date has been specified for a vote.
In a deal that could be worth US$15 billion but has not yet been signed, Jordan has agreed to take gas for 15 years from Israel's Leviathan offshore natural gas field that has still to go on line. The plans also include construction of an underground valve at the eastern end of the route on the border with Jordan to enable natural gas transportation.
Route for the pipeline construction was approved in accordance with an environmental document and opinion by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in the country. Comments from district committees and public objections were also taken into account prior to the approval.
