Israeli gas consumption is expected to rise to 7.25 billion cubic meters this year nearly triple the level of last year, the Energy and Water Ministry said on Friday.
The sharp rise in use of natural gas follows the beginning of commercial production at the huge Tamar offshore field on March 31. The increased use of gas will lead to a decline in gasoil and fuel oil consumption.
Israel began using gas in 2004. Consumption rose from 1.19 Bcm in 2004 to a high of 5.34 Bcm in 2010. Local use fell in 2011 and 2012 due to the cut off of deliveries from Egypt and the faster-than-expected depletion of the Mary B reservoir off of Israel's southern Mediterranean coast.
The Energy and Water Ministry forecasts domestic consumption will reach 9.7 Bcm in 2015 and rise to 13.3 Bcm in 2020.
However, many experts say the ministry projections are overly conservative and that domestic demand will be substantially higher in 2020.
A government-appointed panel has recommended approving the export of 500 Bcm of gas through 2040. The remainder of the estimated 1 trillion cu m in resources would be for domestic use.
Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom said this week that the government would decide on an export policy in two weeks after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns from an official visit to China. There has been growing criticism of plans to export gas from political and environmental officials.
