Natural gas a possible factor in Morsi's overthrow

A special report released today by Middle East Monitor on negotiations by the Egyptian military backed government to purchase Israeli gas through Cyprus has raised a number of important questions regarding what motivated Al-Sisi to lead a coup against the democratically elected leader Mohammed Morsi.

A special report released today by Middle East Monitor on negotiations by the Egyptian military backed government to purchase Israeli gas through Cyprus has raised a number of important questions regarding what motivated Al-Sisi to lead a coup against the democratically elected leader Mohammed Morsi.

The report reveals that Cyprus is attempting to secure the use of Israeli gas to justify the construction of a liquefaction plant on the island. The plan is to collaborate with Israel’s existing reserves in an attempt to tap into the lucrative Asian market. In exchange, Israel will become energy independent.

Though the government has asserted they will not import Israeli gas, Egyptian officials have confirmed they would discuss the purchase of natural gas with Cyprus, which will in effect come from Israel.

Whilst the ousted President Mohammed Morsi was in power, it did not seem that Israeli LNG cargoes would be permitted to pass through the Suez Canal to reach the Far East, or that Egypt would work together with Israel. But under Al-Sisi’s military backed interim government, co-operation with Israel is a possibility.