Egyptian gas discovery could impact Israeli exports -minister

JERUSALEM, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A huge natural gas field discovered offshore Egypt could have implications for Israel, which is looking to export its own deposits, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Sunday.

Partners Noble Energy and Delek Group, who in recent years discovered two sizeable fields in Israeli waters, have been negotiating long-term contracts to sell gas to customers in Egypt, but the deals have been held up by regulatory uncertainty in Israel.

Steinitz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has just a one-seat majority in parliament, have been struggling to get approved an agreement they reached with Noble and Delek that would help speed up development of most of the country's offshore reserves.

"The giant gas field discovery in Egypt is a painful reminder that while Israel has been 'sleep walking' and delaying the final approval of the gas outline and holding up further exploration, the world is changing in front of our eyes, including the implications on export possibilities," Steinitz said in a statement.

Italian energy group Eni said earlier on Sunday it had discovered the largest known gas field in the Mediterranean off the Egyptian coast, predicting the find could help meet Egypt's gas needs for decades to come.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Crispian Balmer)