Gas pipeline explodes in Egypt

July 5, 2011

English.news.cn 2011-07-04 08:10:58

EL-ARISH, Egypt, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A major Egyptian gas pipeline was bombed

early Monday morning by saboteurs, cutting gas exports to some Middle East

countries and gas supply to thousands of local households.

The attack occurred in the wee hours of Monday at a village on the northern

Sinai Peninsula, some 80 km from El-Arish, a major gas-exporting hub in Egypt, a

local security source told Xinhua.

Flames as high as 20 meters were seen 15 km from the scene shortly after the

blast. Local residents said they heard a big explosion. No casualties have been

reported so far.

The fire was put under control on Monday morning after all valves of the

pipeline were closed, Egypt's official MENA news agency said.

A group of masked armed men driving two cars and a motorcycle barged into the

gas pumping station after defeating the guards and planted explosive devices

under the gas pipeline, then they detonated them, it reported.

Gas supplies feeding Arish steam power station, the industrial zone in central

Sinai, and 2,500 residential units, as well as some countries abroad, were all

cut off as a result of the blast, it added.

Workers are still assessing the damage of the blast.

It was the third attack on gas pipelines in North Sinai since February when

political turmoil struck Egypt and ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.

On April 27, a powerful explosion hit the main natural gas terminal at the

entrance of the city, causing huge flames of 20 or 30 meters high. Gas supplies

to Israel and Jordan were halted. In February, an explosion of a pipeline in the

same area cut gas exports for a month.

North Sinai Governor Abdel Wahab Mabrouk told Xinhua that the previous two

blasts were carried out with similar methods. He described the blast as a

terrorist act aimed at harming stability and security in Sinai.

Egypt's natural gas exports to Israel have been a target of criticism from

Egyptians following Mubarak's fall. Mubarak was accused of involving, together

with former Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy and other senior officials, in

exporting natural gas to Israel at prices lower than international levels to

gain illicit benefits for themselves at the expense of public interests.

Egypt has planned to raise the prices of its natural gas exports. A top Egyptian

petroleum official confirmed in early June that consultations were going on

between Egypt and countries importing gas from Egypt. He said those countries

were willing to revise the prices.

Editor: Chen Zhi

Recommended Posts