RAMALLAH, June 11 (JMCC) - Egyptian gas began flowing to Israel on Friday, after a weeks-long halt due to sabotage,
reports CNN.
The commercial supply of gas began today after two days of testing said Zeev Feiner, a spokesman for the Merhav group of companies, one of the major partners in the gas pipeline between Egypt and Israel. The pipeline is operated by the East Mediterranean Gas Company.
Delivery of Egyptian gas to Israel came to a halt after an April attack on a pipeline in the Sinai Peninsula.
It was the second such attack on Egyptian pipeline infrastructure since the toppling of the Mubarak government earlier in the year. Both attacks resulted in a halt in the flow of gas not only to Israel but to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon as well.
Israel receives approximately 40% of its natural gas from Egypt.
The gas deal has been roundly criticized amid charges that Egyptian officials now under scrutiny received kickbacks from the sale and that the gas is being sold below market price. Israeli investors have refuted those claims.