Commercial volumes of gas will start flowing from Egypt to Syria in August through an Arab gas pipeline that is near completion, regional energy officials said.
Testing of the pipeline from Al Arish in Egypt to Deir Ali in Syria is due to commence in March. Supplies will gradually rise from 90 million cubic metres a year in August to a two billion maximum, depending on Syria’s needs, they said.
“This is the first Arab network of its kind, representing an economic success as well as a political one,” Egyptian Oil Minister Sameh Fahmy told reporters in the Syrian capital. The project was agreed in 2000, to supply Egyptian gas to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

(Reuters)