The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoP) Tarek El Molla announced that the natural gas delivery project will be completed a year earlier than expected, connecting about 3.4 million housing units with natural gas by the end of the current fiscal year (FY) 2020/21, according to a press release.

The project is currently underway to connect 1.1 million units with natural gas across Egypt. In line with Egypt Vision 2030, the ministry is surveying various regions in Egypt to target the suitable areas for natural gas delivery, in addition to examining new methods of connecting remote areas to the natural gas grid through technologically advanced tankers. Such areas include El Wadi El Gedid, which is located 230 kilometers (km) away from the nearest natural gas grid.

On another note, El Molla added that the expansion of prepaid gas meters is currently underway. About 20,000 prepaid gas meters have been implemented in Al-Asmarat areas (1-2) and Bashayer El Khair (1-2-3). Moreover, in cooperation with the Ministry of Military Production, the ministry will have 1.2 million prepaid meters ready to launch in FY 2020/21; whereas 600,000 meters are expected to be installed this FY, and the rest to be installed during the coming years.

It should be noted that since the project began, the ministry delivered natural gas to 11.2 million housing units.