Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has begun supplying around 50 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to Lebanon through the Arab Gas Pipeline, in addition to delivering roughly the same amount to Syria, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The move follows agreements between Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments via a vessel chartered by Cairo and docked at the port of Aqaba, Jordan. The arrangement is set to provide about 100 million cubic feet of gas daily to both countries during the winter months.
Last Monday, Egypt signed two memoranda of understanding with Syria to supply natural gas and petroleum products to support electricity generation. Syria faces one of its most pressing energy challenges, with electricity demand exceeding supply by more than 80 percent, a gap officials estimate could take up to five years to fully close.
A Lebanese energy ministry source noted that Egyptian gas has not yet reached Lebanon. The two countries previously signed an agreement on December 29 to facilitate the supply of natural gas from Egypt.
According to the Egyptian official, Egypt received an initial LNG shipment last week for Syria and Lebanon, with a second shipment—around 3.5 billion cubic feet—expected by the end of the month. Cairo covers the charter costs of the LNG vessel, while Syria and Lebanon are responsible for paying for the gas itself, in coordination with the United States.
The initiative follows the U.S. Congress’s removal of sanctions under the “Caesar Act,” clearing the way for Cairo and Beirut to implement a 2022 agreement to supply Egyptian gas to Lebanon via Syrian territory.
Egypt has renewed the charter for the LNG vessel Energius Force at Aqaba for six months to serve Syria and Lebanon, with Jordan receiving transit fees for the gas passing through its territory.
This strategic cooperation underscores Egypt’s growing role as a regional energy hub and aims to address pressing electricity and gas shortages in both Syria and Lebanon during the winter months.
