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Egypt to ramp up LNG imports as output drops and summer season nears

Egypt is expected to increase melted gas (LNG) imports as its own gas production falls and power need climbs up over the summer period, according to industry sources and data.

Returning to imports would reverse the most populous Arab country's position as a gas exporter recently as part of a plan to end up being a dependable supplier to Europe.

Egypt's government has purchased least 2 LNG freights this month for instant delivery and is expected to acquire approximately 20 over the spring and summer season in readiness for increasing power need, 3 industry and trading sources told .

Egypt, which faces growing demand for gas from its population of 106 million, is anticipated to purchase 3 cargoes per month between July and October, local media outlets reported.

The federal government has been seeking a local supply function, selling Egypt's own gas and re-exporting Israeli gas as LNG to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Although it became a net exporter from a net importer after the discovery of the huge Zohr gas field in 2015, there have been couple of large discoveries since and production at the field had actually fallen partly due to the fact that of water infiltration concerns, analysts and market sources had informed .

Hamdy Abdelaziz, a representative at Egypt's petroleum ministry, told a local talk program on Sunday that the drop was because of the natural decrease of found wells, including that this is anticipated to be balanced out by new wells being drilled in the field.

In 2023, Egypt's total gas production was up to its least expensive because 2017, figures from the Joint Organisations Data Effort (JODI) reveal.

Gas production in 2023 was around 59.29 billion cubic meters ( bcm), falling 11.5% year-on-year to the most affordable production level given that 2017, when it was around 50.72 bcm.

Last year, Egypt began a $1.8 billion programme to drill natural gas expedition wells in the Mediterranean Sea and Nile Delta, with the goal of drilling 35 in two years.

The reduction in production has come after a wave of rolling blackouts last summer season shocked Egyptians who had grown used to a. decade of trustworthy power materials.

Power cuts have actually stayed in place since, other than for a. short-term halt during Ramadan and are extensively anticipated to. continue throughout the summertime.

Egypt's petroleum ministry did not immediately respond to a. ask for comment.