Kuwait Signs Deal with Greece's DESFA on Liquefied Gas

Kuwait's KIPIC signs $106 million contract with Greek gas grid operator DESFA. KUNA
Kuwait's KIPIC signs $106 million contract with Greek gas grid operator DESFA. KUNA
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Kuwait Signs Deal with Greece's DESFA on Liquefied Gas

Kuwait's KIPIC signs $106 million contract with Greek gas grid operator DESFA. KUNA
Kuwait's KIPIC signs $106 million contract with Greek gas grid operator DESFA. KUNA

Kuwait has signed a six-year, $106 million contract with Greek gas grid operator DESFA for the group to operate a liquefied natural gas import terminal in the Gulf emirate, the state-run news agency KUNA reported on Thursday.

The LNG terminal, in the al-Zour area, will go into operation next year, the agency said, citing an official from state-owned Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company, which signed the deal.

Mahmoud Abul, KIPIC's deputy CEO for financial and administrative affairs, indicated that the recently signed deal included a clause that stipulated training of Kuwaiti workers and reaching 60 percent of operational work force in the future.

Al-Zour refinery project is part of the new Kuwait vision 2035 and falls within the strategy of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) to develop the industry in Kuwait.

Deputy CEO of al-Zour refinery Hatem Al-Awadhi commended the deal on Thursday, revealing that it will achieve the highest levels of operational security for the facility.

He expressed confidence that KIPIC will build strong relations with DESFA to create a solid and beneficial partnership.



France Signs Deals to Help Egypt’s Economy in Volatile Regional Climate

 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) attend the Egypt-France Business Forum, in Cairo, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) attend the Egypt-France Business Forum, in Cairo, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
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France Signs Deals to Help Egypt’s Economy in Volatile Regional Climate

 Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) attend the Egypt-France Business Forum, in Cairo, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) and French President Emmanuel Macron (L) attend the Egypt-France Business Forum, in Cairo, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)

France and Egypt signed strategic partnership agreements on Monday, in areas covering health, transport and energy, which French President Emmanuel Macron said would help shore up Egypt's stability amid volatility in the region.

"Egypt is a strategic partner for our country," said Macron, speaking alongside Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at a news conference in Cairo.

"I would thus like to reaffirm France's commitment to ensuring the stability of Egypt given the context of a worsening climate in the region and as the Egyptian economy faces challenges," added Macron.

Macron said he continued to back talks between Egypt and the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.

The IMF approved last month the disbursement of $1.2 billion to Egypt, which has been grappling with high inflation and shortages of foreign currency.

Macron added France's overseas aid development body would sign 260 million euros ($284.5 million) worth of loans and grants for Egypt in areas such as transport, health, water and energy.

Macron and Sisi also both reaffirmed their calls for a ceasefire to the fighting in Gaza and for the release of Israeli hostages.