The Minister of Energy, Yuval Steinitz, announces the appointment of Guy Smet, former Director General of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, as Acting Director of the Natural Resources Administration and Commissioner of Petroleum at the Ministry of Energy.
The administration is responsible for regulating the exploration, licensing and production of natural resources (such as oil, gas, oil shale), construction and paving raw materials and industrial minerals, and deals with the restoration of quarries after extraction of the raw materials.
Samet, served as Acting Director General of the Ministry of Defense for a year and a half, and served in a variety of positions in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, including Senior Deputy Director of Local Government, Director of the Southern District and Senior Deputy Director of Administration and Human Resources. And upon his departure, he returned to the rank of VP under the incoming CEO, David Yahalomi. Smet is now replacing Yossi Wurzburger, who is retiring after 17 years in the civil service, including 9.5 years as director of the Natural Resources Administration and director of oil at the Ministry of Energy.
In his role as director general of the Ministry of Environmental Protection under Minister Elkin, Samet was one of the main promoters of the Leviathan gas rig at Dor Beach.
Energy Minister Dr. Yuval Steinitz noted today that Würzburg “played a significant role in the success of the development of the natural whale and crocodile shark reservoirs and their connection to the coast,” and wished success to Smet.
Maya Yaakovs, CEO of Zalul, said today about the appointment of Smet: In the last decade we have seen before our eyes how huge companies are doing their part in our natural resources.
“Scandalous agreements for gas and oil drilling, massive mining of phosphates that destroyed the Dead Sea, production licenses for large areas to turn oil shale into polluting oil and more. The price of helplessness on oil and gas and cooperation with oil and gas companies will be paid by the Israeli public for many years to come. Guy’s joining the Ministry of Energy will create a series of changes and extreme environmental strictness, recognizing the profound changes required in government policy in light of the severe climate crisis we are facing. And more. “