Egypt, Jordan sign agreements to strengthen co-op in natgas sector

To increase gas exports and boost cooperation between Egypt and Jordan in the natural gas sector, representatives from both countries signed two agreements on Saturday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced.

Representatives from the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and Jordan's National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) signed the first agreement.

The first agreement centered on utilizing a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) at the Al-Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Terminal in Aqaba, Jordan until 2025. 

By utilizing the FSRU, Egypt could use it to supply Jordan with LNG and a separate quantity of natural gas that can be re-pumped back to Egypt, if necessary, through pipelines, explained Amjad Al-Rawashdeh, director general of NEPCO.

The main goal of the agreement is to reduce operational costs related to LNG storage and regasification and ensure a secure gas supply for both countries.

The second agreement focuses on Egypt supplying natural gas to Jordan's industrial sector, and was signed by EGAS and the Jordanian-Egyptian Fajr Company.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum, Tarek El-Molla, emphasized that these new agreements demonstrated the strong cooperation and integration between the two countries in the natural gas sector. In January, Egypt and Jordan previously signed an agreement to provide natural gas to the industrial city of Quweira in Aqaba, Jordan, further strengthening their energy partnership.