Egypt to Supply Lebanon with Natural Gas

Cairo signed an agreement with Beirut to supply natural gas to Lebanon through networks in Jordan and Syria, the Egyptian minister of petroleum said. Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi met with Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Alain Tabourian to discuss the terms of bilateral energy ties.

Fahmi said Egypt would begin supplying natural gas to Lebanon by mid September, the official Egyptian State Information Service reports.

The agreement is in line with previous considerations for the use of Egyptian gas for the use of power plants in northern Lebanon.

Tabourian said the new gas supplies would go to meet growing domestic energy demands, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports.

"We are running our plants at full capacity and we can't provide electricity to all of Lebanon at the same time," he said. "We need an additional 800 MW to meet growing demand."

The natural gas will pass through networks in Jordan and Syria before reaching Lebanon. A test run is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Fahmi said that Cairo under the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak is keen to enhance political and economic support for the Lebanese petroleum and natural gas sectors.