Saturday 11 June 2011

Jordan, Israel affirm resumption of Egyptian gas supply, Egypt denies


Jordan, Israel affirm resumption of Egyptian gas supply
[ 11/06/2011 - 07:51 AM ]
 
AMMAN, (PIC)-- Jordanian official sources and Hebrew media affirmed that the supply of Egyptian gas to both Jordan and Israel was renewed as of Friday night after one and half month of halt due to an explosion that targeted the pipeline in northern Sinai.
Jordanian minister of energy and mineral resources Khaled Tukan said that the natural gas supply resumed for the first time after the pipeline explosion on 27 April.
He said in a statement carried by the official Jordanian news agency Petra that the Egyptian gas supply would reach 70 million cubic feet per day within the few coming days.
For its part, the Hebrew radio said that EMG, which imports the gas from Egypt, announced resumption of the gas exports but said, ”The pressure in the pipeline will be restored to its full level gradually in the coming days”.
Egypt supplies Jordan with 80% of its needs to produce electricity while Israel depends on Egyptian gas for the production of 40% of its electricity.

Egypt denies resuming gas supply to Israel

[ 08/06/2011 - 08:50 PM ]

CAIRO, (PIC)-- The Egyptian oil ministry has denied media rumors that Egypt resumed Tuesday pumping gas to Israel.

The pipelines exporting the natural gas to Israel and Jordan were sabotaged three times during the popular protests that successfully ousted the former regime headed by Hosni Mubarak.
Ministry sources said damage incurred require importing parts from abroad before pipelines are up and running.

Reuters said that gas exporter East Mediterranean Company had announced resuming gas exports to Israel after stalling that has lasted over a month.

Oil minister Abdullah Gharab denied that political reasons were behind the disruption of gas trade with Israel.

Israel said it would resort to international arbitration if Egypt raised gas prices as it has threatened.
The occupying state receives 45 percent of its gas needs from the pipeline running through Sinai at a cheap price compared to world gas rates.

Israel's relations with Egypt have deteriorated after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to surrender to Egypt's hike in gas prices following the explosions.

Egypt's policies towards Israel have taken drastic turns since the switch of power that conluded the revolutions.

The country has reopened Wednesday its once blockaded borders with the Gaza Strip after four days of closure over technical reasons.

Also on Tuesday, protesters gathered near the Israeli embassy in Cairo demanding a complete stop to the export of Egypt's natural gas to Israel.

The protesters also condemned the infiltration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish extremists a day earlier as well as Israel's policies against the occupied Palestinians.
River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian

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