A natural gas pipeline was blown up by unknown attackers in North Sinai early Sunday, Egyptian MENA news agency reported.
The Egpytian officials say they stopped the flow of the gas to extinguish the fire after the blast. The pipeline supplies natural gas to a power station and homes in el-Arish.
Another Egyptian natural gas pipeline used to carry gas exports to Israel and Jordan was blown up in late 2014 as well.
The pipeline that carries gas exports to Israel and Jordan was blown up well over 20 times since Egypt’s popular uprising in January 2011. Egypt has already stopped exports to Israel in 2012, and supplies to Jordan dwindled over the past few years until it came to an halt.
Egypt became an exporter to an importer of gas in the last few years. The country’s natural gas production has declined by an annual average of 3 percent from 2009 to 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.In 2013, gas production was almost two trillion cubic feet.
By Gokhan Yildiz
Anadolu Agency
gokhan.yildiz@aa.com.tr