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Egypt unruffled by EastMed pipeline project

Now that Cyprus, Greece and Israel have agreed to build a subsea pipeline to supply Europe with natural gas, officials are downplaying its potential impact on Egypt's ambition to become a regional energy hub.
(From L to R) Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pose for a photo before signing a deal to build the EastMed subsea pipeline to carry natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe, at the Zappeion Hall in Athens, Greece, January 2, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis - RC2U7E9A69GD
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CAIRO — The East Mediterranean pipeline agreement signed by Cyprus, Greece and Israel Jan. 3 in Athens to supply Europe with natural gas has raised questions about its potential impact on Egypt. The project comes at a time when Egypt is striving to become a regional hub for the trade and distribution of liquified natural gas to Europe and Turkey is working to extend its control over energy resources in the Mediterranean through the drilling for gas off the coast of Cyprus.

The future EastMed subsea pipeline is planned to extend over 1,872 kilometers (1,163 miles) and promises to transport 9-11 billion cubic meters of gas annually from the marine reserves of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin off Cyprus and Israel to Greece, as well as to Italy and other countries in southeastern Europe.

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