The energy ministers of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt meet in Amman on Sep. 8. (Credit: Alaa Al Sukhni/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Egypt’s petroleum minister told CNBC Arabia on Sunday that his country will start exporting natural gas to Lebanon by the end of the year, part of a US-backed effort to help alleviate the country’s electrical power woes.
Here’s what we know:
• In an interview with the outlet, Tarek El Molla said that his country was prepared to start delivering natural gas by year-end, adding that Egypt produces between 7 to 7.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day.
• El Molla’s comments come after Lebanon, Jordan and Syria agreed on Oct. 28 to supply Lebanon with 400 Megawatts of electricity a day through grid interconnections running through Syria, with the supply expected to start flowing in early 2022.
• On Sep. 8, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon reached an understanding on a roadmap for Egypt to start piping natural gas to Lebanon. Under the agreement, the natural gas would supply the Deir Ammar power plant in north Lebanon, with the aim of supplying an additional 450 MW of power to the country.
• On Oct. 5, Egypt and Lebanon announced they were finalizing arrangements for the natural gas supply.
• Energy Minister Walid Fayad has said that the gas supplies will be financed with a World Bank loan backed by the US, which is working on an exemption to the Caesar Act sanctions that could complicate overland transit via Syria.