Egyptian gas pipeline to Israel, Jordan attacked for 15th time 2012-08-03

Egyptian gas pipeline to Israel, Jordan attacked for 15th time

The pipeline meant to carry gas from Egypt to Israel and Jordan was attacked for the 15th time in additional than a year.

An explosion occurred on Sunday morning, east of El Arish in the northern Sinai Peninsula, Reuters reported. Explosives placed under the pipeline, just before it branches out to send gas to both Israel and Jordan, were detonated remotely, witnesses told Reuters.

There have been no exports of gas to Israel or Jordan since an attack on the pipeline in April, according to reports.

Egypt unilaterally canceled its natural gas agreement with Israel in late April, reportedly abrogating the original Egypt-Israel peace treaty of 1979.

The 2005 transaction between the governments of Israel and Egypt promised that Cairo would allocate 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Israel for 20 years, with an option to double the amount. The 1979 peace treaty had required Egypt to supply Israel with oil; it was later amended to natural gas.

Attacks on the pipeline have occurred since uprisings began in February 2011 against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was deposed. No arrests have been made in any of the attacks.

The supply of gas to Israel has been halted numerous times in the last year, leading to a scramble to find alternate fuel sources to produce electricity that are additional expensive.

Egypt supplied Israel with additional than 40 % of its natural gas needs to produce electricity; electricity prices have risen by additional than 20 % in Israel since the attacks began.