Archive for gas exports

Gas pipeline in Sinai bombed for 15th time since revolution started

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July 22nd, 2012

The pipeline transporting Egyptian natural gas to Israel has been bombed for the 15th time since the January uprising last year, according to North Sinai Governorate sources.

The explosion, which took place in the Taweel area, 10 km east of Arish city, would appear to confirm that gas exports to Israel have restarted.

The source referred to information about the resumption of gas exports to Israel four days ago.

However, Mohamed Ayyoub, head of the Gasco Company in Arish, denied that exports had restarted, saying the gas inside the pipeline was left from before Egypt had announced it was halting gas exports.  According to sources, the company continues to pump gas to keep the equipment efficient but does not pump the gas to Israel.

The blast apparently took place in a depopulated area and was caused by improvised explosive devices. No casualties were reported.

Egypt signed a gas deal with Israel in 2004, but many Egyptians were strongly opposed to the agreement. Many called for its cancellation since the 25 January uprising.

No attackers' identities have been discovered after any after any of the bombings.

Five vehicles and fire engines tried to contain the blaze, which was visible from the Gaza Strip 45 km away, the sources added. Several security officials also attended the blast area.

The Gasco Company, which operates the pipeline, stopped pumping to allow the emergency services to contain the fire, which meant gas to Arish power plant and certain districts in West Arish was cut off.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Israeli ambassador meets with Foreign Ministry

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April 24th, 2012

Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, Yaakov Amitai, on Tuesday visited the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and met with Taher Farahat, the ministry’s director of the Israel unit. The visit lasted for over half an hour.

The visit was Amitai’s first following the termination of Egyptian gas exports to Israel, and security forces secured the area during his visit.

A diplomatic source denied reports that the Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador in response to statements made by a number of Israeli officials following the termination of gas exports.

The source went on to say the visit is not unusual and that it came at the request of the Israeli ambassador over a week ago. He pointed out that the Foreign Ministry had nothing to do with the decision to terminate gas exports to Israel, pointing out that the decision was made for reasons relating to the terms of the agreement. He said it was a commercial dispute between two companies, unrelated to politics.

The source added that Israel had yet to find a new headquarters for the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.

Edited Translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
 

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Tantawi asserts defense capabilities of army in shadow of gas decision

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April 23rd, 2012

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the ruling military council, said that the army would continue to protect Egypt’s “threatened” borders, especially the north-east border.

Tantawi's statement came after the decision to stop gas exports to Israel, and the reaction of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who said Egypt’s unilateral decision does not bode well.

Watching the main phase of the “Victory 7” maneuver in the Sinai, Tantawi said: “We defend our territory and do not attack anyone. But whoever comes close to our borders, we will break his legs.”

“The armed forces are strong against our enemies from abroad and those who try to tamper with the destiny of this great nation from within,” he added.

Parliament had praised the decision to stop the gas exports, and rejected threats by senior Israeli officials responding to the decision.

Parliament Speaker Saad al-Katatny said that Parliament would never accept threats or warnings. He explained that the decision was based on legal grounds, as the intermediary that exports the gas failed to make payments.

“We shall not go back on this historic decision, a tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for this historic day,” he said. “We pledge to defend our rights and remain faithful to our noble mission.”

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Gasco hides signs indicating location of Egypt-Israel gas pipeline

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March 11th, 2012

The Egyptian Natural Gas Company (Gasco) has worked on hiding any signs indicating the location of the Sinai natural gas pipeline that supplies Israel and Jordan, Petroleum Ministry sources said.

This step is part of a security plan to curb fresh attacks on the pipeline, which has been bombed 13 times since February 2011. No entity has taken responsibility for the attacks.

The assailants know the rugged Sinai terrain makes it difficult to completely secure the pipeline, which extends 160 kilometers in the desert, a source said.

On Monday, unidentified men bombed the pipeline south of Arish, only six days after gas exports resumed.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel has not received the supplies of gas agreed on in a deal signed in 2005 because of the repeated blasts.

The gas pipeline supplies Israel with 43 percent of its needs of gas and Jordan with 80 percent of its needs.

Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
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