AMMAN, Jordan: A new price agreement with Egypt will facilitate the renewal of Egyptian gas exports to Jordan, reported a source in the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Egyptian and Jordanian officials are finishing the paperwork on the agreement this week in order to resume the export of gas to Jordan. “Jordon and Egypt will sign an agreement to sell gas at higher prices in order to resume exporting gas from Egypt” said Khaled Tokan, the Jordanian minister of energy and mineral recourses. “Jordan is still interested in importing Egyptian gas despite the frequent attacks on the pipeline beginning on February 5,” Tokan said. The Jordanian ministry is also employing consultants to help with the transfer of the liquid gas to its natural gaseous state. The Ministry also reported it will establish a receiving station for the gas in Aqaba. Jordan signed a 15-year agreement with Egypt to import natural gas in 2004. The agreement notes that Egypt will export 240 cubic feet of gas each day to Jordan. Jordan relies on Egyptian gas to generate 80 percent of its electricity. After they stopped importing Egyptian gas they began using heavy fuel oil and diesel and lost U.S. $5 million daily.
