Egypt Ready to Pump Natural Gas to Lebanon

Lebanese caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla meet in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanese caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla meet in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Ready to Pump Natural Gas to Lebanon

Lebanese caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla meet in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanese caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad and Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla meet in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt confirmed its commitment and readiness to pump natural gas "immediately" to Lebanon as soon as the procedures related to the start of exporting and receiving Egyptian gas to Lebanese territory are completed.

During a meeting with Lebanese caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad in Cairo, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek el-Molla stressed Cairo's readiness to provide all aspects of support, cooperation, and expertise to Lebanon in various petroleum activities.

El-Molla said the cooperation is an extension of the strong ties that unite the two countries and the continuous support of the political leadership in boosting relations with Lebanon.

During his visit, Fayyad thanked the Egyptian state, leadership, and people, for their support, especially as Lebanon grapples with an unprecedented economic crisis.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Magdy Galal.

Last June, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria signed an agreement to transport 650 million cubic meters of natural gas from Egypt to Lebanon via Syria.

Under the agreement, it will pump gas through a pipeline to the Deir Ammar power station in northern Lebanon, where it can add about 450 megawatts to the grid, equivalent to four additional hours of electricity per day.

The export of gas will be done through the existing Arab Gas Pipeline that was used to supply Egyptian gas, but it ceased operation several years ago.



Ma’aden CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: 820,000 Meters of Exploration Wells Drilled in Saudi Arabia

Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
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Ma’aden CEO to Asharq Al-Awsat: 820,000 Meters of Exploration Wells Drilled in Saudi Arabia

Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)
Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt. (Future Investment Initiative)

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) has undertaken the largest exploration program in a single region worldwide as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, diversify its economic base, and position mining as the third pillar of the national industry.

The company has drilled over 820,000 meters of exploration wells in the past two years, surpassing similar efforts in other countries, Ma’aden CEO Robert Wilt told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Wilt revealed that this program has already yielded a potential gold discovery spanning 100 kilometers south of the Mansourah and Massarah mines, located 460 kilometers east of Jeddah.

The CEO emphasized Ma’aden’s role in leading the development of the mining sector as the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy, harnessing mineral resources estimated at $2.5 trillion.

He highlighted the company’s ambitions to unlock the Kingdom’s potential in strategic minerals, such as gold and copper, which are vital for manufacturing industries and the global energy transition.

To sustain the company’s strategies, Wilt stressed the importance of supporting and developing the next generation of Saudi talent. Ma’aden is committed to creating an attractive industry for young professionals and investing in skills and technology to enable its workforce to build a new era for mining in the Kingdom.

Ma’aden currently operates more than 17 mines and exploration sites across Saudi Arabia, transforming mineral wealth into added value for the national economy. The company exports its products to over 30 countries worldwide.

Additionally, Ma’aden has invested in the necessary infrastructure for mining and processing operations. This includes constructing modern mines, advanced processing plants, and world-class export ports.

The company leverages cutting-edge technology to boost productivity, improve product quality, and reduce costs. It also utilizes advanced systems for analyzing geological data to identify promising mineral sites, integrating this technology throughout its operations from exploration to marketing.