The repairs to the damaged natural gas pipeline in Sinai should be finished in a few days, reported Head of the Egyptian Company for Natural Gases Magdy Tawfik. The recent explosion severely damaged the pipeline, Tawfik told Youm7. He added that technical devices from Cairo University were used to determine the locations on the pipeline where damage was most severe. “We faced some challenges during our repairs because some of the residents insisted on receiving compensation before the work began,” Tawfik said. “Some of these residents prevented the engineers from starting their work, which delayed the repairs.” “The Sinai governorate pledged to pay compensation, and our company paid 325,000 EGP (U.S. $54,466) to the owners of the olive farms who suffered consecutive damage by the explosions,” he added. GASCO must wait for the insurance company to meet its obligations before compensation can be paid, and this could take a long time, Tawfik said. Repairs to the pipeline after the first explosion cost 28 million EGP (U.S. $4.7 million).
