Egypt to Begin Importation of LNG Wroth $3.55bil in 2015-2016

Egypt will be importing about $3.55 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the 2015-2016 financial years; this report was giving by an official at the state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) on Tuesday.


Earlier this month, Egypt moved closer to easing its chronic power shortages with the arrival of a floating import terminal marking the start of imports of super-cooled LNG.
In the past, Egypt has exported LNG, but the new system will now allow the country to begin imports.
"The cost of the LNG that will be imported during 2015-2016 will be around $3.55 billion," an EGPC official told Reuters by phone, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Egyptian financial year starts in July.
The EGAS state gas board has agreed to import 35 LNG cargoes from Russia's Gazprom over five years.
This year and next it has agreed to take 33 cargoes from Trafigura, nine from Vitol, seven from Noble and six from Algeria's Sonatrach.
Energy is politically sensitive in Egypt, where dissatisfaction with persistent power cuts has sparked protests that have helped topple two leaders in four years.
Rising consumption and falling production have turned the country from an energy exporter to a net importer.

4/14/2015