Economic expert Abd al-Nabi Abd al-Muttalib said that the export of Israeli gas to Egypt is nothing but private interests. Parliament was pressured to pass a law allowing the private sector to import and trade gas in Egypt.
This came in an interview with Al-Jazeera Mubasher, commenting on the visit of the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tariq Al-Mulla, to Israel yesterday, and his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and then the disclosure of an agreement to extend a pipeline linking the Israeli offshore Leviathan field of natural gas with liquefaction stations in northern Egypt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today received Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tariq Al-Mulla, at the Prime Ministry headquarters in Jerusalem, and said at the beginning of the meeting:
"You are welcome. Please convey my warm regards to my friend His Excellency President Sisi. Pic.twitter.com/bvMFKV0jWw
- Benjamin Netanyahu (@Israelipm_ar) February 21, 2021
In response to a question about the fact that the agreement to export gas to Israel was concluded to meet the financial fines imposed on Egypt following the bombing of the pipeline and the cessation of Egyptian gas exports to Israel, Abdel Nabi said that the issue is only private interests.
He continued that when the Egyptian parliament was pressed to pass a law allowing the private sector to import and trade gas in Egypt, its main goal was to restart the East Mediterranean gas pipeline that was established in order to export Egyptian gas to Israel.
He added that after the revolution of January 25, 2011, there began to be talk about Egyptian gas going to Israel at a low price, and that this was one of the largest corruption deals in the world, and the export of Egyptian gas to Israel was stopped under popular pressure and the line was closed.
What is the relationship between the Egyptian Intelligence Service and the gas agreement with Israel? # Egypt # Evening pic.twitter.com/w8L36HT1tE
- Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) February 21, 2021
The economist said that after years, the company that owns the line started talking about the possibility of benefiting from it, and marketing began with the idea that Egypt would be a gas importer in the coming years.
He continued, "It is not official Egypt that sought to operate the pipeline, but rather the private sector that did so in order to exploit investments worth billions of dollars, and Tel Aviv pressed for the completion of the gas agreement between Egypt and Israel."
Regarding the Mullah’s visit to Israel, Abdel Nabi said that the visit comes within the framework of the Eastern Mediterranean Forum, which includes Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Palestine, and thus it is a foregone conclusion of an entity that was established.
Regarding the fact that the Egyptian intelligence owns 40% of a company affiliated with the gas company that owns the line, the economist said that even if Egypt owns 49%, this does not deny that it is a company controlled by the private sector and personal interests.
"The owners of the pipeline have investments and have influence, and their well-planned effort has succeeded in breaking the state’s monopoly on importing gas, and the private sector is the one who facilitated this agreement."
The visit of the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum to # Israel raises a widespread debate among bloggers pic.twitter.com/ta37f8I9y7
- Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) February 21, 2021
Heavy losses to Egypt
Regarding the fact that the agreement between Egypt and Israel was concluded with one of the companies owned by the Egyptian intelligence, political researcher Khaled Fouad told Al-Jazeera Mubasher that deals between Arab countries and Israel do not occur through governments, but are passed through the private sector through companies affiliated with the security and intelligence services to avoid parliament's approval. On the agreements.
He added, "Talking about private companies entering into deals with Israel is not logical, especially in light of the sensitive relationship between Egypt and Israel. This is a deal between the Egyptian regime and Israel that was made through the private sector to avoid legal obstacles."
Regarding Egypt's losses from this deal, Fouad said that Egypt only exported two gas shipments during the year 2020 in July and October, and most of the gas coming from Israel entered the local market in Egypt and was consumed locally, although Egypt has the ability to export gas. It imported gas from Israel in which it pays hard currency, and it causes losses to the Egyptian economy.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met with Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tariq Al-Mulla, who is currently visiting Israel.
Ashkenazi said: "Egypt is a strategic partner for Israel, and I am happy to expand the scope of cooperation in the field of energy between the two countries. Egypt plays a key role in ensuring peace and stability in the region." Pic.twitter.com/r6cSa1DQ2a
- Israel in Arabic (@IsraelArabic) February 21, 2021
Egypt does not need Israeli gas
On the question of why Egypt imports gas from Israel despite its ability to export, international oil expert Mamdouh Salama told Al-Jazeera Mubasher that Egypt does not need Israeli gas because it has the largest gas reserves and the largest production in the eastern Mediterranean, and is able to meet its needs and export the surplus.
He continued, “But Egypt seeks to consecrate its gas center as a center for gas and energy in the eastern Mediterranean, and it wants to attract Israeli gas exports through its lands instead of the Israeli gas export pipeline to Europe under the Mediterranean, as well as operating the two gas-to-liquid stations, and obtaining a percentage in return for re-export. The beneficiary of this work is first and foremost, according to his opinion.
It is noteworthy that Egypt has signed agreements to import 85 billion cubic meters of gas from Israel over 15 years, at a value of 15 billion dollars.