Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced Wednesday that the country signed a protocol with the Greek Cypriot administration on construction of an offshore gas pipeline.
According to Tarek el Molla's statement about the protocol, Egypt and the Greek Cypriot administration agreed in principle on a natural gas pipeline project that will be constructed underneath the Mediterranean Sea.
"This protocol is signed within the framework of mutual economical contribution and cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of oil and natural gas. The aim is to transport Greek Cypriot natural gas to Egypt," Molla explained.
The agreement was signed in Lefkosa by Molla and Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Georgios Lakkotrypis from the Greek side.
The statement from Molla did not include the volume of the gas trade and the time to start the imports from southern Cyprus.
Egyptian government's oil and natural gas imports per year amounts to $9.5 billion.
Reporting by Aydogan Kalabalik in Cairo
Writing by Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency
ebrusengul@aa.com.tr
