In honor of Israel’s 26th Philately Day – the day celebrating the collection and
study of postage stamps – the Energy and Water Ministry launched on Wednesday a
stamp featuring a drilling rig at sea, to commemorate the large reserves of
natural gas found off the coast in recent years.
The NIS 4.20 stamp,
produced by the Israel Philatelic Service in conjunction with The Association of
Oil and Gas Industries in Israel, was designed by Ronen Goldberg and Tuvia Kurtz
and is available on a sheet of 15 stamps. On the stamp is a colorful
illustration of a drilling rig at sea and a service copter flying overhead, as
well as a black-and-white photograph of on-shore drilling from the Central
Zionist Archives.
The stamp stresses the importance of Israel’s expanding
energy economy and its new-found capability to emerge in the global energy
industry as well as provide a secure electricity supply at home, the ministry
said.
“One of the ways in which the state record a seminal event in
history and ascribes to it importance is by means of issuing a stamp,” said
Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau. “The discoveries of Israeli natural gas
are certainly such an event for the State of Israel.”
Landau stressed
that due to the large amounts of natural gas available, the country’s
electricity supply will be able to undergo a complete “makeover,” with reduced
air pollution and increased energy independence.
“Our job is to see to it
that all Israelis can enjoy and benefit from the advantages of this gas,” Landau
added.
Launching the stamp along with Landau were Communications Minister
Moshe Kahlon, Israel Postal Company Board of Directors chairman Sasi Shilo,
Israel Postal Company CEO Haim Elmoznino, Philatelic Services director Yaron
Ratzon and Association of Oil and Gas Industries chairman Uri
Aldubi.
Noting the importance of using blue-and-white energy resources at
home as well as allowing for exports, Aldubi said that the natural gas finds
will contribute greatly to the economic development as well as the energy
stability and security of the country for years to come.
“The State of
Israel’s achievements in the field of natural gas, oil and energy put the
country in a position of honor in the international energy market,” Shilo
added.
“These achievements certainly deserve to be commemorated in a
stamp.”
|