Gas-rich Qatar will supply cash-strapped Egypt with free five shipments of liquefied natural gas to help the country with its soaring fuel demand over the peak summer period, the Egyptian Petroleum Ministry said Monday.

The cargoes come as, "a gift to the Egyptian people during the summer months, with the first of these shipments beginning at the end of July," and continuing until mid-September, the statement posted on the ministry's website said.

Egypt did not publicly disclose the size of the shipments, but a person close to the matter said each cargo would hold between 3.2 billion and 3.3 billion cubic feet of natural gas.

Egypt is a significant gas producer, but a slowdown in oil and gas exploration due to unrest over the past couple of years has led to a fall in domestic production. The country has experienced regular power cuts recently due to shortages of natural gas used to generate electricity.

Διαβάστε ακόμα