EGYPT Eyeing Politically Controversial Gas Imports from Israel

摘要

In a bid to ease Egypt's gas shortages, which seem sure to worsen considerably over the next few years, one seemingly radical idea appearing to gain traction among industry officials in Cairo is the possibility of importing gas from Israel. Top Egyptian energy officials acknowledge privately that this could be one potential long-term solution to the country's gas woes, but whether they have the courage and ability to bring forward such a deal publicly is another question altogether. At a time when the power of the Egyptian street appears to be the final arbiter in Egypt's ongoing political turmoil, inking a politically controversial gas supply deal with Israel could be a burden too difficult for any Egyptian government to bear. But that hasn't stopped international oil companies operating in Israel and Egypt from aggressively flirting with the idea.