A section of the Egypt to Israel gas export pipeline near the town of al-Arish in Northern Egypt has been attacked for the sixth time this year, making it the most heavily targeted piece of oil infrastructure in the Middle East.
One person was injured in the attack, accoring to Egyptian security sources speaking to AFP.
Three men opened fire at a pumping station near the town of el-Arish, a witness told Reuters news agency. There were reports of flames shooting 15 metres into the air. Supplies have been suspended.
Egypt, Israel and Jordan all lose out whenever the pipeline is attacked. Egypt loses export revenue – 30% of its gas goes via the badly needed at a time when the fate of the domestic economy is unclear and the state of political progress after the fall of Hosni Mubarak earlier this year is in doubt.Â
Jordan depends on Egyptian gas for 80% of its electricity, while Israel gets 40% of its natural gas from the country. Syria also imports gas from Egypt. All have to obtain more expensive imports from other markets while the pipeline is repaired.
The pipeline is deeply unpopular as it supplies Israel with gas under a deal struck by the Mubarak regime in 2008. It is widely believed in Egypt that the gas is sold at below-market rates, though the content of the deal remains confidential.
Previous attacks have shutdown the pipeline for anywhere from two weeks to a month.Â
The pipeline is run by Gasco, Egypt’s gas transport company which is a subsidiary of the national gas company EGAS.
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