Egypt to restore exports of gas to Jordan to pre-2009 levels

And while we’re on energy, Egypt plans to ramp up gas exports to Jordan to their pre-2009 levels, an Oil Ministry official tells Al Masdar. Egypt and Jordan plan to sign a new export agreement before the year is out that would see Egypt export around 250 mcf/d of gas that the kingdom would use to fire electricity generation stations, the source added. Egypt had committed to export 250 mcf/d to Jordan under a 2004 agreement. Export levels started falling in 2009 before being stopped after the events of 25 January 2011, causing losses to the Jordanian government of around JOD 5 bn (USD 7 bn), according to previous statements by Jordan’s Energy Minister Hala Zawati. Cairo and Amman signed an amendment to the 2004 agreement last month under which Cairo will supply c. 10% of Amman’s natural gas needs.