Taher Abdel Rehim, head of the Gas Holding Company (EGAS) denied rumors of the Egyptian government showing interest in buying gas from Israel.
“Not to my knowledge,” Rehim responded, when asked if such an intitiative were on the table.
Israeli Minister of Energy and Water Silvan Shalom had told the ‘Good Morning Israel’ program broadcast by the Israeli army on Tuesday that Egypt was suffering from a shortage of gas and had shown interest in buying gas from Israel. “Why not,” he said, adding that he would discuss the details of the deal if it is to be implemented.
The Israeli High Court of Justice had on Monday rejected lawsuits demanding the rescinding of the Israeli government’s decision on exporting gas. The ruling was passed by five judges against two.
The Israeli government had decided four months ago to allocate 40 percent of its gas to export and 60 percent to domestic consumption. The total amounts to 540 billion cubic meters which is sufficient for 25 years. The exports would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the state treasury.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ministers of finance and energy applauded the court ruling, and so did the Israeli gas companies.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
