Arab gas pipeline inside Syria ready for transmitting gas from Egypt to Lebanon: Oil Minister

Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources Bassam Tou’ma has affirmed that the Arab gas pipeline inside Syria is ready for transmitting the Egyptian gas to Lebanon, pointing out that Syria will get a quantity of this gas for allowing it to pass through its territories pursuant to the signed agreements.

In a statement to SANA, Tou’ma said that the Arab gas pipeline has undergone maintenance, being part of the internal gas network, after it was exposed to dozens of terrorist attacks and looting acts by the terrorists and now it has become ready for working.

He made it clear that according to the memo, which was signed between Syria and Egypt in 2000, and was joined by Jordan in 2001, each one of these countries has to set up part of the Arab gas pipeline that goes through its territory and should do the necessary  maintenance works.

He pointed out that only 600 meters long part of the pipeline within the border area between Syria and Lebanon needs to be inspected in coordination between the two countries.

 Syria will benefit from reactivating the gas pipeline through getting quantities of Egyptian gas for generating  electric power, the minister clarified, noting that the Lebanese side asked for 600 million cubic meters of gas annually.

According to Tou’ma, this cooperation between Arab countries is a step towards restoring ties in a way that serves the Syrian economy and eases the repercussions of the unfair American blockade imposed on the Syrian people

Hamda Mustafa