Egypt exported gas to Israel during the rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak after signing a 20-year deal with the Egyptian businessman Hussein Salem.
The deal broke down in 2012 as the gas line from Egypt to Israel and Jordan was bombed several times in Sinai.
The scandal is that Egypt exported gas to its enemy and now it is importing gas from its enemy.
A prominent official from the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) said Cairo plans to import Israeli gas directly from American oil firm Noble Energy without the mediation of companies in Egypt or abroad.
The official pointed out, during a telephone interview with the Anadolu Agency, that EGAS does not wish to use mediatory companies that could misuse their agreement later, a possible reference to what happened with Egyptian businessman Hussein Salem.
“We have no reservations about importing gas from Noble Energy within a deal that specifies quantities, prices and transportation,” the official added.
Reuters reported a source at Cairo International Airport saying on Sunday that a delegation from Israel arrived to discuss gas shipments with Egyptian officials.
In a statement reported by Reuters, the partner said that the ongoing negotiations aim at reaching a 15-year deal to export seven billion cubic metres of gas every year.
Egypt suffers from gas crisis in the market as the gas production is unable to meet demands. At the same time, the production of natural gas in Egypt decreased to 4.8 billion cubic metres compared to six billion at the end of 2012.
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