{"id":678892,"date":"2025-12-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?p=678892"},"modified":"2025-12-27T12:03:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T12:03:42","slug":"israel-advances-usd-35-bn-natural-gas-export-agreement-with-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2025\/12\/19\/israel-advances-usd-35-bn-natural-gas-export-agreement-with-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel advances USD 35 bn natural gas export agreement with Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning, friends, and happy Friday. <\/strong>Even though fewer issues made it to your inbox this week, it\u2019s been a long and busy one for us at EnterpriseAM, and we\u2019re happy to settle into our couch and wind down on this chilly morning.<\/p>\n

Missed our coverage during our publication holiday?<\/strong> No worries, you can find everything that you might have missed in the headlines below, from investment news to international developments.<\/p>\n

Leave resolutions of smaller portions and more mindful eating for the new year, and <\/strong>dig into these foodie favorites this weekend.<\/strong> From newly-minted eateries to long-hailed favorites that stood strong in \u201825, we\u2019ve listed our favorite bites of the year in this week\u2019s edition of The Enterprise Guide.<\/p>\n

Enterprise Weekend comes out each Friday at 9:00am CLT.<\/strong> We\u2019ll be back on Sunday at 6am with EnterpriseAM. Until then: Enjoy the weekend.<\/p>\n

?\ufe0f LAST WEEK IN 3 MINS-<\/p>\n

ENERGY-<\/strong><\/p>\n

#1- Egypt locked in a long-term energy backstop after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin <\/strong>Netanyahu <\/strong>signed off<\/a><\/strong> on the stalled USD 35 bn natural gas export agreement. <\/strong>The deal will see Chevron and its partners in the Leviathan gas field, NewMed Energy and Ratio Energies, export 130 bcm of gas to Egypt between 2026 and 2040.<\/p>\n

#2- <\/strong>Dubai<\/strong>-based Amea Power and Japan\u2019s Kyuden International have <\/strong>wrapped financing<\/a><\/strong> on a USD 700 mn solar and battery storage project in Aswan<\/strong>, Amea said in a statement<\/a>. It will be the largest single-site renewable energy facility in Africa when it comes online. The 1 GW solar plant, paired with 600 MWh of battery storage, should come online by June 2026. Amea Power holds 60% of the project, while Kyuden has 40%. It\u2019s Kyuden\u2019s first investment in Egypt; construction work is already underway.<\/strong><\/p>\n

#3- The Tourism Development Authority is <\/strong>allocating land<\/a><\/strong> for renewable energy <\/strong>projects for the first time<\/strong>, with Cairo-based Karm Holding (formerly Karm Solar) securing the inaugural deal: a 500k sqm site south of Marsa Allam Airport for a 40 MW off-grid solar plant.<\/p>\n

INVESTMENT WATCH-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Egypt expects to land c.USD 10 bn in Qatari investment by the end of <\/strong>2026<\/strong>, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM. The inflows will be a mix of sovereign and private capital, with the lion's share coming from state-affiliated entities. Officials expect<\/a> Qatari companies in manufacturing, ports and logistics, and hospitality to invest a combined USD 2.0-2.5 bn.<\/p>\n

TOURISM(ish)-<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is <\/strong>offering relief measures<\/a><\/strong> to investors in <\/strong>the Taba-Nuweiba area to cushion the blow from the war in Gaza. <\/strong>Investors will be able to defer debt repayments for an additional year and suspend repayments for 18 months without interest penalties.<\/p>\n

DEBT WATCH-<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mabdouly government is<\/strong>preparing a new incentive package<\/a><\/strong> and regulatory <\/strong>tweaks in a bid to start curbing our reliance on the hottest of hot money flows.<\/strong> The package of measures includes changes to the primary dealers system and the secondary market for local-currency debt, a senior government official told EnterpriseAM.<\/p>\n

CONSTRUCTION-<\/strong><\/p>\n

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) <\/strong>sent a signal of confidence in Egypt<\/a><\/strong>, after tapping our friends at Hassan Allam Construction to build its USD 250 mn African Trade Center (AATC) in the New Capital. It will be the bank\u2019s largest global complex to date and will house its new global headquarters, replacing the bank\u2019s current HQ in Heliopolis.<\/p>\n

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? AROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS- <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The spotlight remains on the oil trade amidst rising tensions between Venezuela and <\/strong>the US.<\/strong> US President Donald Trump ordered<\/a> a \u201ctotal and complete blockade\u201d of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, he said in a lengthy post on Truth Social. Following Trump\u2019s announcement, crude futures dipped to their lowest close since February 2021.<\/p>\n

^^ The must-read on the topic: Oil rises as Trump's Venezuela blockade takes edge off<\/a>global crude surplus concerns<\/a> (Reuters).<\/p>\n

Over in the business press- <\/strong>Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s board rejected<\/a> Paramount Skydance\u2019s \u201cinferior\u201d GCC-backed offer and urged shareholders to recommit to Netflix\u2019s bid. Also, New York hedge fund Standard General is reportedly in talks<\/a> to invest in (or acquire) the Warner Bros. Discovery television networks, including CNN, according to a Financial Times report. Read more:<\/strong> Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile- <\/strong>BP\u2019s Murray Auchincloss is out as CEO after less than two years. He\u2019s being replaced<\/a> by Meg O\u2019Neill, who comes in from Australia\u2019s Woodside Energy. She marks BP\u2019s third CEO in five years, and their first woman CEO. Analysts expect her to toe the line and stay committed to BP\u2019s oil and gas-first approach. Read more:<\/strong> Financial Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And- <\/strong>Volkswagen is shutting a plant in Germany, its home market, for the first time in its 88-year history. That\u2019s bad news for any country hoping VW is eyeing them for a new assembly plant, including Egypt. Read more:<\/strong> New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also- <\/strong>Earlier this week, PayPal applied to open a bank in the US. If greenlit, the newly-minted bank would offer savings accounts and strengthen PayPal\u2019s loan services to SMEs across the US. Read more:<\/strong>Bloomberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u2600\ufe0f THE WEATHER THIS WEEKEND- <\/p>\n

Put on your sweaters and grab a hot cup of cocoa \u2014 we\u2019re in for a chilly weekend in <\/strong>Cairo. <\/strong>Temperatures on Friday are set to peak at 22\u00b0C before cooling further to 12\u00b0C. On Saturday, the capital is in for a slightly warmer day with a high of 23\u00b0C and a low of 14\u00b0C, according to our favorite weather app.<\/p>\n

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Happening this weekend<\/p>\n

?Abyusif makes his comeback at the Greek Campus in Downtown Cairo<\/strong> tonight<\/strong>. Expect a high-energy show<\/a> and a hyped up crowd. Tickets are selling out fast \u2014 you can get yours on Ticketsmarch\u00e9<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Sharmoofers<\/strong> are hitting the stage at City Centra Almaza\u2019s City Garage<\/strong> tonight<\/strong>. Expect a night<\/a> of good vibes and groovy music. You can find tickets on Ticketsmarch\u00e9<\/a>. <\/p>\n

In the mood to explore Old Cairo?<\/strong> Join Athar Lina\u2019s Spend<\/a>the Day in Khalifa<\/a> for a tour through al-Khalifa today and tomorrow. Expect to learn about the heritage of al-Khalifa with narration from its very own residents alongside a trip to the Southern Cemetery. The event is at no charge \u2014 full program details are available through this form<\/a><\/a>. <\/p>\n

Grammy-nominee Ibrahim Maalouf is coming to Egypt as part of his tribute tour<\/strong>, marking the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed album Kalthoum. Catch the Lebanese trumpeter at New Capital\u2019s Concert Hall tomorrow. You can get your tickets now on Ticketsmarch\u00e9<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Pop icon Tamer Hosny is bringing his biggest hits to the Abdeen Palace <\/strong>open air theater for a fundraising <\/strong>concert<\/a><\/strong> this Saturday.<\/strong> Dress in black tie and formal evening wear for a fully seated night with the star live on stage. Tickets are available on Tazkarti<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Happening next weekend<\/p>\n