Egypt, Qatar sign LNG supply deal for Sokhna and Damietta ports

The Egyptian Natural Gas Company (EGAS) and Qatari petroleum firm QatarEnergy have signed an agreement to deliver an unspecified number of Qatari LNG shipments to Egypt’s Sokhna and Damietta ports, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said in a statement on Sunday.

The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Egypt’s petroleum ministry and Qatar’s Ministry of State for Energy Affairs to enhance cooperation on trading and importing liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The MoU aims to diversify LNG sources and expand cooperation to provide gas shipments for Egypt’s needs, while supporting efforts to increase local gas production.

Egypt has been negotiating long-term contracts with Qatar to secure its natural gas ahead of summer 2025, ensuring supplies for electricity generation and signalling a return to net gas exporter status by 2027, a major shift in the country’s energy outlook.

QatarEnergy already operates six offshore areas in the Mediterranean and plans to expand its operations over the next five years, including drilling several exploration wells, according to the statement.