Natural gas supply from Egypt to Israeli customers is expected to resume on Monday after the pipeline was damaged five weeks ago, an Israeli partner in the East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) consortium said on Sunday.

The resumption of gas supply will follow the successful completion of repair work and testing of the pipeline that was damaged in an explosion and fire on Feb. 5, Ampal-American Israel Corp said in a statement. It initially was slated to resume on March 4 but was delayed several times.

Egyptian state television and local government officials had reported saboteurs blew up a pipeline that runs through Egypt’s North Sinai, disrupting flows to Israel and Jordan.

EMG is owned by Egyptian businessman Hussain Salem, Egypt Natural Gas Co, Thailand’s PTT, American businessman Sam Zell, Ampal-American and Israel’s Merhav.

EMG supplies 45 percent of the gas needs of Israel’s electric utility. The rest comes from off Israeli shores.

(Source: Reuters)