Developing the abundant natural gas resources discovered offshore Israel is a complicated endeavor that involves considerable geopolitical diplomacy in addition to the traditional commercial details that must be worked out when building multi-billion dollar energy projects. “Natural gas is both a geopolitical tool and a target in Israel, where a newfound bonanza of resources has the potential to improve ties with energy-hungry Egypt, Jordan and even the Palestinian.” [New York Times]

Green bonds are growing in popularity as a way to finance costly environmental cleanup projects and energy-related investments. “Tapping a long-established financing mechanism — bonds — is a way to boost the chances investors, from pension funds to asset managers, will get involved. ‘Investors like vehicles they’re comfortable with,’ says Lubber. ‘If we tried something completely new, it would be harder.’” [ensia]

Several major LNG projects in Australia slated to start operating soon could face near-term cash flow woes amid much lower oil-linked prices for their LNG. “’Clearly, many Australian projects are at risk of delivering inadequate returns,’ said Ian Ashcroft, a U.K.-based gas analyst at Wood Mackenzie. ‘Some are already suffering due to cost overruns, but the impact of the oil price on early cash flow is also critical to project economics.’” [Wall Street Journal]