Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt and Qatar have signed a new memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in liquefied natural gas and expanding their broader energy partnership, a move that reflects shifting dynamics in regional gas markets and Cairo’s efforts to secure reliable energy supplies.
The agreement was signed in Doha on Sunday by Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy and Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, who also serves as chief executive of QatarEnergy. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum, the MoU covers LNG sales and imports, supply-chain coordination, and cooperation on future energy projects.
At the core of the agreement is Egypt’s strategy to diversify its natural gas sources and reinforce its ambition to become a regional hub for gas trading and LNG re-export. Egypt operates two LNG liquefaction facilities at Idku and Damietta, which have played a central role in supplying gas to international markets in recent years. However, fluctuating domestic production and rising demand have increased the need for flexible import arrangements, particularly during peak consumption periods.
Under the memorandum, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company and QatarEnergy signed an executive framework to deliver multiple Qatari LNG cargoes to Egypt’s El-Sokhna and Damietta ports. These shipments are intended to support Egypt’s domestic gas network while also helping maintain stable operations at its LNG infrastructure.
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, has been steadily expanding its global energy footprint and sees Egypt as a strategic partner in the eastern Mediterranean. QatarEnergy already operates in six offshore exploration blocks in the Mediterranean and has signaled plans to make additional investments over the next five years, including drilling new exploratory wells in partnership with major international energy companies.
The agreement also aligns with broader regional trends, as eastern Mediterranean gas producers seek closer coordination amid shifting global energy flows. Egypt has positioned itself as a key transit and processing center for gas from neighboring producers, while maintaining strong ties with major suppliers such as Qatar to ensure supply security and market flexibility.
Officials from both countries described the MoU as a framework agreement that could pave the way for deeper technical cooperation, joint investments, and long-term commercial arrangements. While specific volumes and timelines were not disclosed, the deal underscores a shared interest in leveraging LNG infrastructure, expertise, and market access to navigate an increasingly competitive global energy landscape.
The partnership comes at a time when LNG is playing an increasingly important role in global energy security, particularly as countries seek alternatives to traditional pipeline gas and adapt to evolving demand patterns. For Egypt, closer cooperation with Qatar provides both short-term supply stability and longer-term strategic support for its ambitions in the regional gas market.
