Lebanon, Egypt sign MoU to supply natural gas to Beirut

BEIRUT, Dec 29 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Joe Sadi and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi signed Monday a memo of understanding (MoU) to supply natural gas to Beirut.
Following the signing, the Lebanese minister affirmed that his country has decided to gradually shift its energy sector from fuel oil to natural gas, given that natural gas is less costly and less harmful to the environment.
He said Lebanon has received a report from a technical committee that visited the country at Jordan's initiative to assess the condition of the pipeline extending from Aqaba through Syria and supplying the Deir Ammar power plant via a northern pipeline.
The Lebanese minister noted that Beirut will contact donor agencies to explore funding options for rehabilitating the pipeline from Deir Ammar to the Syrian border. (end) ayb.mt