Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 11 / Trend A. Tagiyeva /
Egyptian gas is supplied to Jordan via this pipeline. The explosions on the gas pipeline are fraught with large financial losses for the country. This forces to seek new sources of electric power, analyst of the Egyptian University "Al-Azhar" Ramadan Emarah told Trend today.
"The explosions on the pipeline occur regularly," he said. "Jordan bears great losses. The country is looking for the ways to reduce dependence on Egyptian gas."
He said that Jordan considers the increase in the electric power by using fuel oil and diesel fuel as the way to reduce the dependence on Egyptian gas. However, this method will cost much more than natural gas purchases.
Unknown people undermined the gas pipeline in Egypt, northern Sinai on Thursday morning. The gas is supplied via this pipeline to Israel and Jordan.
In 2011, the Egyptian section of the Pan-Arab gas pipeline was the target of terrorist attacks. The explosion occurred at the section of the gas pipeline near El Arish in February. Gas supplies to Israel and Jordan were suspended for over a month and resumed on March 16.
He said that Jordan is looking for other gas suppliers in the country. It negotiates with potential suppliers.
He also stressed that the Jordanian authorities intend to start a project to develop hydrocarbon deposits in the country with foreign, especially British companies.
"Jordan also plans to build a new terminal to receive liquefied natural gas in the port of Aqaba," he said. "This will receive liquefied natural gas from the whole region."
The above-mentioned facts indicate that Jordan intends to minimize the current dependence on Egyptian gas.
Earlier, spokesman for the Jordanian Energy Ministry Mahmoud Al-Ais told Trend that Jordan is interested in increasing gas supplies to the country. Azerbaijani gas is of great interest to the country.
He went on to say said that in case of reaching an agreement, Jordan plans to buy about 4.2 million cubic meters of gas per day (150 million cubic feet) from Azerbaijan which is more than 1.5 billion cubic meters per year.
Egypt exports 8.6 million cubic meters of gas to Jordan per day on the basis of the agreement concluded in 2004. In mid-October, Egypt and Jordan agreed on new gas prices.