JORDAN: After the explosion of the main natural gas pipeline from Egypt to Jordan on Wednesday, Jordan's Minister of Energy and Mineral resources said Jordan will work with Egypt to restore, secure and protect the pipeline in the future. In an interview broadcasted on Jordanian TV, the minister said Egypt stated the pipeline will be repaired in two weeks and that Jordan's gas supply will be received in one half or one third of the standard scheduled quantities. He also said Jordan has alternatives to aid the country's gas supply until then. The minister explained, "I sent a message to the Oil Minister of Iraq and asked him to increase quantities of the Iraqi oil to 30,000 barrels per day. "We've also asked the neighboring Arab states that have a surplus in oil production to provide us with a grant for oil," he added. The 2001 agreement between Egypt and Jordan states that for 15 years, Jordan is to receive 240 million cubic feet of gas per day, equaling 2.4 billion cubic feet per year. The quantity meets 60-65 percent of Jordan's needs, while other statistics state that it covers nearly 80 percent. In July 2010, Egypt and Jordan agreed to raise the quantity but this agreement has yet to be signed.
