Large natural gas reserves discovered under the Mediterranean sea close to the Israeli city of Haifa are proving a draw to Dutch firms, news agency ANP reports on Friday.

Gas companies Kiwa Gas Technologies and civil engineering group DHV are part of a trade mission to Israel in June and hope to move in on the find, ANP says.
‘The Dutch gas and energy sector has a lot of experience in extracting gas, processing it and transporting it, thanks to the Slochteren and North Sea fields,’ said Bert van der Heide from Kurtz Marketing, the company organising the mission.
‘Israel is looking for specialised partners… and that offers opportunities to Dutch firms, although it is not clear how many jobs would be generated.’
US and Norwegian firms have also approached Israel about exploiting the fields, Van der Heide said.