Egypt’s gas exports to Israel and Jordan to resume in 10 days

Ahram Online, Wednesday 16 Nov 2011

With the latest attack on the pipeline in Sinai once again disrupting the flow of gas to Israel and Jordan, estimates put the cost to Egypt of similar incidents this year at more than $80 million

Egyptian pipeline
Flames rise from an Egyptian pipeline distribution station after an attack in the Sinai peninsula (Photo: AP)

The Egyptian natural gas pipeline supplying Israel and Jordan, which was hit by an explosion last week, may take as long as 10 days to repair, Magdy Tawfik, chairman of Egyptian Natural Gas Co (Gasco), told Bloomberg.

Four underground tubes were damaged in the attack on the pipeline, which runs through Egypt’s North Sinai governorate. Gas exports have since been halted.

Egyptian gas exports to Jordan will resume within a week, Jordan’s Energy Minister Qutaiba Abu Qura told Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency (MENA). Gasco’s Tawfik reiterated earlier press reports that the cost in damages and lost export revenues from the successive attacks on the pipeline network this could reach up to LE500 million ($83.6 million).

Jordan’s power stations were forced to switch to heavy fuel as a result of the disrupted gas flow from Egypt following the attacks.
 

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