1.
SV Bulldozer in field ZOOM INTO Oil storage tanks
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2.
GVs Oil storage tanks and oil pipelines (3 shots)
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SV PAN Man working PULL BACK TO SHOW Oil road tanker
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SV Man operated valve in oil pipe
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GV ZOOM BACK TO SHOW Oil pumps and storage tanks
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Initials 0345/0430/1735



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Israeli crews and troops are finalising the details of their withdrawal from the Ras Sudar oilfields in the Sinai.

The hand-over of the oilfields will take place immediately after a U.S. Congress vote on the manning of radar listening posts in the Sinai by U.S. technicians .. provided Congress approves the move.

Under the terms of the recent Egypt-Israeli interim peace agreement, Israel must hand back the oil fields to the Egyptians.

The Sinai field produces more than half Israel's oil, and the decision to pull out has angered Israeli opposition parties.

The Congress vote on the manning of early warning stations and whether America should help monitor the new peace agreement is expected within a few days.

The Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate voted in favour of sending in 200 technicians on Tuesday (7 October).

Should the Congress also approve the move, the peace accord will be fully implemented.

Israeli working crews are still at the fields and will keep them running until the hand-over. Troops are destroying and dismantling military installations in the area .. no damage will be caused to the oilfields or their machinery and plants.

The hand-over of the oilfields plus the main wells at Abu Rudeis is expected to be completed within three or four weeks.

SYNOPSIS: The Ras Sudar oilfields in the Sinai, where operations are winding down in preparation for the Israeli withdrawal. Israel has promised to hand back the fields to Egypt as part of their new interim peace agreement. The hand-over will take place as soon as the United States' Congress approves plans for American technicians to man early warning stations in the Sinai. The U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee has already given its approval to the scheme.

In the meantime, Israeli crews and troops are getting ready for the move. All Israeli military installations in the area will be dismantled. However, the oilfields will be kept running by Israeli crews right up until the time of withdrawal.