You're reading: Egypt hopes liquefied natural gas supplies from Gazprom begin this year

Egypt expects supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Gazprom to begin before year-end.

The framework agreement on LNG supplies that Gazprom Global LNG Limited signed with Egyptian EGAS in March is expected to lead to signing of a purchase-sale agreement.

Asked whether a contract might be signed during a Russian government delegation’s upcoming visit to Egypt, Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Mohamed El-Badri said: “As for Gazprom, yes, of course, there are understandings on this score. I cannot say exactly. I think that actual cooperation in this framework will begin this year.”

“But I would like to add that gas is not the only opportunity for energy cooperation. We have other possibilities in this sector,” he said.

The Egyptian side said earlier that Cairo expects to sign a five-year LNG supply contract with Gazprom covering delivery of 35 shipments: seven LNG carriers a year beginning in 2015.

Egypt’s gas production has declined substantially since the Arab Spring, dropping to 48.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2014 from 62.7 bcm in 2009, prompting the North African nation to seek out imported supplies.