Israel to transfer jet fuel to Germany following Hormuz crisis

BERLIN/JERUSALEM, May 6 (Reuters) - Israel will transfer jet fuel to Germany after Berlin requested assistance in recent days following the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement posted online by Israel's energy ministry on Wednesday.

The coordination of the cargoes will be carried out with the refineries, said the ministry, which did not give details about the amount of jet fuel or a timeline.

The ministry added that it would examine ways to assist Germany with the issue of natural gas as well.

The ministry said the move was agreed by Energy Minister Eli Cohen and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who announced the move to his German counterpart during a visit to Berlin.

Concerns about a jet fuel supply crunch due to the war in Iran disrupting Middle East supplies have been growing in Europe, particularly as the peak summer travel season nears.

Fuel prices have surged since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran upended traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz, leading to the air travel industry's worst crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The German economy ministry said that Israel has indicated its willingness to provide support through deliveries of jet fuel and natural gas, but details and quantities are not available as the companies themselves negotiate the contracts.

In a separate statement, a ministry spokesperson said that Germany does not currently face a physical energy shortage but was in touch with the aviation industry to monitor potential impacts and quickly take targeted countermeasures if necessary.