Meitar’s energy and infrastructure practice covers a wide range of fields in the energy sector, including oil and gas exploration, electricity, natural gas purchase and transportation and renewable energy ventures, and infrastructure projects.
Our services in the energy field include negotiation and drafting of power purchase agreements, natural gas and other fuel purchase agreements, natural gas transportation and distribution agreements and other energy project agreements. We advise on regulation and tenders related to the energy sector, including applicable laws and regulation for upstream and downstream natural gas projects and for renewable energy projects, from the inception of the venture through completion of the project. Our expertise in the energy regulation sector includes regulation applicable to Independent Power Producers, purchase of upstream petroleum rights and Renewable Energy.
Meitar's energy practice is headed by
Renelle Joffe, formerly a senior legal advisor with the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC, the integrated Israeli electricity utility). Renelle served for a decade as Legal Advisor for Natural Gas and Fuels at Israel Electric Corporation, and her experience includes negotiating international energy agreements for IEC, including the purchase of natural gas from Egypt.
Our energy and infrastructure practice team is multidisciplinary and works frequently in conjunction with the firm's Technology, Corporate and Environmental Groups.
Renelle is co-Chairperson of the recently formed Energy and Infrastructure Committee of the Israeli Bar Association. The IBA formed the committee at Renelle's initiative, in light of the increasing legal work in this sector, with new regulation in the electricity sector being published regularly, particularly in the renewable energy sector, and with the development of the natural gas sector.
Representative experience:
Upstream oil and gas:
- Representation of numerous entities farming in and out of petroleum licenses offshore Israel, including regulatory advice in connection with such acquisitions and agreements between license holders.
- Ongoing representation of offshore petroleum license holders in their exploration activities: in connection with regulatory matters and agreements (JOAs). Such clients include license holders in the Sara and Myra licenses.
- Ongoing local representation of several international contractors with respect to exploration and development offshore Israel, including advice on applicable legal regime, on regulatory, corporate, tax, labor and immigration aspects.
- Representation of operators of licenses offshore Israel.
- Representation of a large multinational oil and gas company in an upstream oil and gas venture in Israel.
Gas Purchase:
- Ongoing representation of Dalia Power Energies, the leading potential Independent Power Producer, in its gas purchase from the "Tamar" field.
- Ongoing representation of a group of conventional and cogeneration stations, in their gas purchase from the "Tamar" fields.
- Ongoing representation of Super Natural Gas, one of the newly formed gas marketing companies in its gas purchase and marketing activities.
- Representation of IEC in its 5 BCM purchase of natural gas from the soon to be depleted Mari B field.
- Advising the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) on its agreement for purchase of natural gas from Egypt (while serving as Legal Advisor for Natural Gas and Fuels of IEC).
- Advising the Israel Electric Corporation on agreement for purchase of natural gas from the Noble-Delek consortium offshore Israel (while serving as Legal Advisor for Natural Gas and Fuels of IEC).
Downstream oil and gas:
- Representation of Super N.G. Distribution Company, one of the two existing natural gas distribution companies, in providing all requisite legal services connected to construction and operation of the gas distribution network in the Central Area of Israel.
- Representation of gas shippers in negotiating gas transportation arrangements with the local natural gas transportation monopoly, including the Oil Refineries.
Electricity and EPC related work:
- Advising companies on purchase of electricity from Independent Power Producers.
- Advising IPPs on their Power Purchase Agreement with IEC/system manager.
- Advising clients on cogeneration stations.
- Representation of an international consortium in the provision of EPC services for an IPP station.
Renewable Energy:
- Advising one of the major European wind companies in a possible venture in Israel.
- Advising one of the leading importers of PV panels into Israel.
- Advising companies regarding renewable energy regulation.
- Representation of leading international renewable energy companies, in renewable energy ventures and projects in Israel.
- Representation of several Israeli entrepreneurs in potential energy projects in renewable energy in Israel and outside of Israel.
Natural gas related tenders:
- Representation of an international consortium in the LNG tender process, which is a BOT tender for the financing, construction and operation of an offshore LNG terminal.
- Representation of one of Israel's leading fuel companies in the recently published gas distribution tender for the Southern region of Israel.
- Advising participants in energy related governmental tenders, including the Electra-Elco group in the natural gas distribution tender for the Negev area.
