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Egypt to import gas from Russia- Lavrov
March 29, 2013, 11:22 am

[PPIO]

President Putin and his Egyptian counterpart meet on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa [PPIO]

Russia and Egypt have discussed the possibility of the deliveries of Russian natural gas to Egypt as the North African country may soon become an importer to revive its weakened economy, Sergei Lavrov said in Durban.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa.

“Morsi expressed interest in the deliveries of Russian gas,” Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, told reporters during the BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue.

Egypt is facing the possibility to become importer of natural gas for the first time in its history as domestic production fails to keep pace with demand growth in the aftermath of the January 2011 revolt that ousted Hosni Mubarak and months of civil unrest that followed.

Osama Kamal, Egypt’s oil minister said last November that the industry would be allowed to import gas in the second half of 2013.

Factories will be permitted to import a maximum of 1 billion cubic feet a day, said Kamal.

Ria Novosti