July 6, 2017 11:00am
Unstable relations between the eastern Mediterranean countries threaten to make long-term gas deals impossible – even if there is enough gas to make them worthwhile.
The gas industry in the eastern Mediterranean has seen a lot of change in the last two years. Chief among the shifts have been:
- Egypt, which has experienced a severe shortage of natural gas and has become an LNG importer, is returning to self-sufficiency in two or three years;
September 27th, 2016
David O'Byrne
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is tying its planned $1bn Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) funding to better transparency in Azerbaijan’s oil and gas sectors.
This was the thrust of an interview with EBRD energy and natural resources boss Riccardo Puliti, published by Turkey's state news agency Anatolia.
Puliti told Anatolia that the EBRD's decision on funding for the TransAnatolian and TransAdriatic pipelines (Tanap and TAP) will depend on Azerbaijan making progress in its ongoing talks with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international initiative backed by governments, corporations and international financial institutions which sets standards of transparency aimed at promoting "open, and accountable management of natural resources" and for which Azerbaijan has candidate status.
September 11th, 201611:45am, Charles Ellinas
Egypt has attracted large and small producers, thanks to higher well-head prices and favourable geology. Its ultimate goal is not only self-sufficiency but a surplus for exports.
Egypt’s gas demand is 52bn m³/yr and is expected to continue rising and may reach 65-70bn m³/yr over the next ten years. A combination of a switch to renewables, lower subsidies, higher gas prices and an awareness campaign by the Egyptian government about more efficient energy use may help stem the rampant increase in demand. But even with these, without new gas coming online the gas deficit of 7bn m³/yr in 2015 will carry on growing.
