Egypt has imported a total of 17 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargos during Q1 of fiscal year (FY) 2018/19 worth $500 million, ministry spokesman Hamdi Abdel Aziz has said, according to Reuters.

Egypt will now halt imports of LNG after receiving its cargo at the end of September 2018, Minister of Petroleum Tarek El Molla announced in an interview on September 29.

El Molla explained to Amr Adib on El Hekaya TV program that domestic natural gas will be a main energy source for Egyptian industries.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced that Egypt will obtain a surplus of natural gas by April 2019, Al Ahram Gate previously reported.

The president made his remarks during a dinner organized by the Business Council for International Understanding, held on the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly.