Israel is negotiating a $15 billion agreement to supply natural gas to Jordan.

If the deal goes through, Israel will pipe 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas over a period of 15 years to the Hashemite Kingdom.

Texas-based Noble Energy jointly operates the giant Leviathan field from which the gas will be supplied.

Keith Elliott, Noble’s senior vice president for the Eastern Mediterranean, told Reuters: “We now have over 60 per cent of Leviathan’s initial capacity and 80 percent of targeted initial sales volumes secured.”

Under the deal, the gas would be transferred directly across the border between the two countries following the completion of a pipeline.