Egyptian natural gas exports halted completely after Sunday's attack on the Arish pipeline that supplies Jordan and Israel. According to Egyptian security sources, unidentified gunmen blew up the pipeline for the twelfth time since the ouster of former President Mubarak early last year. “We've made contact with the Egyptian authorities to determine the extent of the damage and the time needed for supply to resume,” said Jordan's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Qutaiba Abu Qura on Sunday to Jordan's official news agency. “The oil refinery and the national electricity company are currently working on supplying power plants with alternative petroleum and diesel fuel in order to continue generating electricity without interruption.” According to the minister, Egypt exported 90 million cubic feet per day since pumping resumed in January. Jordanian Prime Minister Awn al-Khasawneh on Monday said the repeated interruption of gas supplies costs the Jordanian treasury around US$2 billion annually. No one claimed responsibility for the most recent bombing. The gas agreement with Israel, which was signed during the Mubarak era, has faced strong opposition from the Egyptian public and political forces, as the Jewish state receives the gas for sub-market prices. Israel imports 43 percent of its natural gas needs from Egypt, while Jordan imports 80 percent.
