France officially asked to join the Eastern Mediterranean Natural Gas Forum (EMGF) during the third ministerial meeting of the forum, a press release reported.

The US also requested joining the forum as a permanent observer.

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, welcomed France’s membership in the forum as well as the US request to be an observer.

He said that the requests will be approved by the forums’s members according to its system.

Additionally, El Molla pointed out that he will request environmental measure to be added  to the World Bank studies prepared by the forum, in addition to moderating the usage of the renewable energy as well as hydrogen.