By NNN-SANA
Damascus : Ministers of Oil and Energy of states participating in the Arab Gas Pipeline ( Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey ) reviewed on Saturday during their meeting the finishing touches for operating the pipeline and mechanisms for following-up the implementation of this vital project.
Syria’s Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources, Sufian Allaw, in a press conference following the meeting, said that Syria has agreed with Egypt to supply gas across the Arab gas pipeline by preferential prices from 21st of next March after completion the required tests for making use of it in the Syrian gas network, especially in operating Dier Ali station to generate electricity with a full capacity.
The Minister added: ” Syria has completed the branch of the Arab gas pipeline dedicated to transport the Egyptian gas to Lebanon except of some simple technical works, which will be completed when the agreement between Lebanon and Egypt to provide Lebanon with the Egyptian in the mid of this year,”
Regarding returns of the pipeline on Syria, al-Allaw said: ” Gas is a good energy source and for us is a key source. There is a big economic returns, because transferring Egyptian gas will save on Syria importing 2500 tons of fuel per day. In a case of passing gas to Lebanon and Turkey, Syria will receive financial returns,”
He added that the Syrian Oil Company has received offers of the third stage from Homs to the Turkish border with a 62 km length.
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi, considered this line as one of the biggest Arab economic accomplishments for being the first Arab network gas to transport gas and market the surplus to the consumers in Turkey and then to Europe.
He pointed out to the possibility of participation of any Arab country wishing to benefit from this important strategic project.
Jordanian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaldoun Qutishat clarified that Jordan is greatly benefiting from this line due to the growing need for gas.
He pointed out that Jordan has completed the link of the gas pipeline extending from el-Rehab area to the Syrian-Jordanian borders.
The Arab Gas Pipeline is one of the great and important Arab projects for being links Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon and contributes in transporting and marketing of gas from this states and across to Turkey and Europe with a length of 1200 km from al-Arish in Egypt via Jordan and Syria to the Turkish borders. It costs about $ 1200 million.
The meeting was attended by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Guler and Acting Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Mohammed al-Safadi.
Earlier, Premier Mohammad Naji Otri discussed with Ministers of Oil and Energy in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey the reality of the work in the Arab Gas Pipeline, stages of its implementation and its importance to meet the growing need for energy.