ID :
206610
Mon, 09/12/2011 - 10:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206610
The shortlink copeid
Rupture of Israeli-Egyptian relations to increase Tel-Aviv's interest in Azerbaijani gas (UPDATE)
Azerbaijan , Baku, Sept.12 / Trend, A.Taghiyeva /
Possible rupture of relations between Israel and Egypt will lead to a cancellation of all existing agreements on the supply of Egyptian gas to Israel. This can lead to an increased interest from Israel in Azerbaijani gas, the Head of Egyptian Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies Yousri Ezbawi believes.
"The rupture of Egyptian-Israeli cooperation in gas supplies will force Israel to look for another partner. In this case, Azerbaijan is an alternative for Israel," Ezbawi told Trend over telephone from Cairo.
According to the expert, Azerbaijani gas supplies can be carried to Israel through Turkey. In the past, Israel had already expressed its desire to buy Azerbaijani gas.
Egypt has supplied natural gas to Israel since 2005. Supplies were carried out through a pipeline passing through the Sinai Peninsula. The annual volume of supplies reaches 1.7 bcm. In 2010 natural gas consumption in Israel reached 5.3 bcm.
Azerbaijan supplies gas to Turkey from the "Shah Deniz" field. Each year, according to the contract, Turkey should receive 6.6 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan during the first phase of the project. As of 2017, when the second stage of development of the "Shah Deniz" field will be launched, Turkey will receive another 6 bcm.
In addition, as of 2017 Azerbaijan plans to supply another 10 bcm of gas from the field through Turkey to Europe.
Ezbawi also stressed that even if a rupture does not occur in the Israeli-Egyptian energy cooperation, Cairo will review the agreement’s details, in particular, the cost of sales.
"Egyptian natural gas costs are set much lower for Israel than the world prices. Egypt will review all agreements with Israel in the energy field," the expert said.
He said that a possible rupture of energy cooperation between Egypt and Israel may adversely affect the economies of both countries.
"Egypt, after the economic downturn arising from the recent events [of the political power turnover], needs to export natural gas to rebuild its infrastructure," Ezbawi said.
With regard to Israel, according to experts it will be difficult to find another partner which will be ready to export gas to Israel at a low price.
The Egyptian-Israeli relations became complicated after the power change in Egypt in February. With former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation, clashes broke out between demonstrators and the army in front of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
Demonstrators demanded the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. A pipeline supplying Egyptian gas to Israel and Jordan was blown up several times in the northern region of the Sinai Peninsula. Demonstrators burst into the Israeli Embassy on Sept. 9 in Cairo. The ambassador and embassy staff were quickly forced to leave Egypt and return to their homeland.
Possible rupture of relations between Israel and Egypt will lead to a cancellation of all existing agreements on the supply of Egyptian gas to Israel. This can lead to an increased interest from Israel in Azerbaijani gas, the Head of Egyptian Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies Yousri Ezbawi believes.
"The rupture of Egyptian-Israeli cooperation in gas supplies will force Israel to look for another partner. In this case, Azerbaijan is an alternative for Israel," Ezbawi told Trend over telephone from Cairo.
According to the expert, Azerbaijani gas supplies can be carried to Israel through Turkey. In the past, Israel had already expressed its desire to buy Azerbaijani gas.
Egypt has supplied natural gas to Israel since 2005. Supplies were carried out through a pipeline passing through the Sinai Peninsula. The annual volume of supplies reaches 1.7 bcm. In 2010 natural gas consumption in Israel reached 5.3 bcm.
Azerbaijan supplies gas to Turkey from the "Shah Deniz" field. Each year, according to the contract, Turkey should receive 6.6 bcm of gas from Azerbaijan during the first phase of the project. As of 2017, when the second stage of development of the "Shah Deniz" field will be launched, Turkey will receive another 6 bcm.
In addition, as of 2017 Azerbaijan plans to supply another 10 bcm of gas from the field through Turkey to Europe.
Ezbawi also stressed that even if a rupture does not occur in the Israeli-Egyptian energy cooperation, Cairo will review the agreement’s details, in particular, the cost of sales.
"Egyptian natural gas costs are set much lower for Israel than the world prices. Egypt will review all agreements with Israel in the energy field," the expert said.
He said that a possible rupture of energy cooperation between Egypt and Israel may adversely affect the economies of both countries.
"Egypt, after the economic downturn arising from the recent events [of the political power turnover], needs to export natural gas to rebuild its infrastructure," Ezbawi said.
With regard to Israel, according to experts it will be difficult to find another partner which will be ready to export gas to Israel at a low price.
The Egyptian-Israeli relations became complicated after the power change in Egypt in February. With former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation, clashes broke out between demonstrators and the army in front of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
Demonstrators demanded the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador. A pipeline supplying Egyptian gas to Israel and Jordan was blown up several times in the northern region of the Sinai Peninsula. Demonstrators burst into the Israeli Embassy on Sept. 9 in Cairo. The ambassador and embassy staff were quickly forced to leave Egypt and return to their homeland.
