Egypt prepares for a new gas crisis following halted talks with Qatar

Egypt prepares for a new gas crisis after talks with Qatar to send more supplies of natural gas have halted.

During preliminary talks in May, Doha had agreed to donate five shipments of liquefied natural gas to Egypt while the latter was proposing to buy at least 13 additional shipments. However, these talks were held before the military coup that ousted elected President Mohammed Morsi on 3 July.

Sources in Egypt’s energy sector revealed that talks with Qatar have not resumed yet.

Meanwhile, media quoted a source in Qatar’s energy sector saying that if Egypt wishes to resume talks with Qatar on more fuel supply, then the army should ease pressure on supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt had reduced its gas exports in recent years as a result of high domestic energy consumption, which peaks during the middle of the summer.