Egypt and Qatar have signed a new agreement to work more closely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales and imports, Egypt’s petroleum ministry said. The deal aims to help Egypt secure additional gas supplies to meet its rising energy demand, particularly during the summer months.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Qatar will supply LNG shipments to Egypt through the Ain Sokhna and Damietta ports. QatarEnergy said the agreement allows for the delivery of up to 24 LNG cargoes to Egypt this coming summer. These supplies are expected to help Egypt meet higher electricity needs during the hot season.
Egypt has been working to increase its gas production and reduce pressure on its energy system. However, gas output has been falling since late 2022. This decline has made it harder for the country to reach its goal of becoming a regional gas supply hub. As a result, Egypt has planned to import gas from countries such as Israel and Cyprus, along with expensive LNG cargoes.
Data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative shows that Egypt produced 3,635 million cubic meters of gas in October last year. This was slightly higher than September’s output but lower than production in October 2024.
Despite these challenges, Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said last week that Egypt aims to become self-sufficient in oil and gas in the future.
