Egypt Daily News – In a new development tied closely to the ongoing regional conflict, Israel has once again suspended its natural gas exports to Egypt without prior notice, amid escalating military tensions with Iran. A senior Egyptian government official, said on condition of anonymity, confirmed the halt and revealed that the gas supplied over the past four days came from the Tamar field, not from the larger Leviathan field.
This marks the second disruption in gas supplies in recent weeks. Israel had only just resumed limited gas exports to Egypt last Wednesday, following a five-day suspension caused by the outbreak of missile exchanges with Iran.
The source explained that Israel has yet to restart production from the deep-water Leviathan field in the Mediterranean Sea, which has been offline since the beginning of the recent hostilities. Instead, the limited supply that had resumed came solely from the Tamar field.
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum has not issued any official comment on the latest disruption, despite repeated requests for a statement.
Strategic Pressure on Cairo
Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen had stated last week that gas exports to Egypt could resume as of Thursday, a move intended to alleviate some of the pressure on the Egyptian government amid mounting energy needs. Prior to the disruptions, Egypt had been receiving approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily from Israel, helping to meet domestic energy demand, particularly in the power sector.
However, the senior Egyptian official made it clear that any resumption in gas supplies now depends heavily on the course of military operations in the region. The restart of production at the Leviathan field, Israel’s most productive gas asset, will be contingent on security assessments.
Egypt’s Contingency Measures
In response to the supply uncertainty, Egypt has taken significant steps to secure alternative sources of energy. The government has arranged for four liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments via specialized vessels, three of which have already arrived. The fourth is expected to dock later this summer.
Additionally, Egypt has received two LNG shipments at the SEGAS liquefaction terminal in Damietta. These are being stored until regasification units at the Ain Sokhna port become operational by the end of this month, part of broader efforts to ensure energy stability during peak summer demand.
Currently, Egypt’s domestic natural gas production stands at around 4 billion cubic feet per day, while local consumption has surged to approximately 7 billion cubic feet per day—driven mainly by increased electricity generation needs amid soaring temperatures.
The continued volatility of regional energy flows underscores the vulnerability of Egypt’s energy security to geopolitical shifts and has added urgency to Cairo’s broader plans for energy diversification and self-sufficiency.
