Israel is not prepared to reopen the gas agreement with Egypt, Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau said today. Answering questions from foreign journalists, Landau said that the agreement was signed only a year ago, and that he saw no reason to revise it.
Commenting on reports from Egypt of intentions to raise the price of gas for Israel, Landau said that "so far we have received no official approach on the matter." At today's press conference at his Tel Aviv office, Landau said that Israel's gas agreement with Egypt was the most important economic agreement between the two countries, adding that he wished to express his appreciation for the stance of the Egyptian energy minister.
"I should like to take advantage of this opportunity to rebut inaccurate information being given to the people of Egypt," Landau said. "Israel pays the highest price, twice the price paid by Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. In regional terms, Israel pays 50-100% more than the price Qatar receives for the gas it exports. I wish to make clear that there is no truth in the reports published in the press." Landau declared that the price Israel was paying was much more than $1.3 per million btu.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 27, 2011
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