Jordan, Egypt discuss natural gas options

The Jordanian government said Egypt's new president pledged to make natural gas pipeline protection a priority for his administration. A natural gas pipeline that feeds consumers in Israel and Jordan from the Sinai Peninsula was attacked this week for the 15th time since the Egyptian revolution of 2011. Utility companies in Jordan, which rely on Egyptian natural gas, warned of potential power cuts during the summer because of supply disruptions coinciding with an attack on the pipeline in April. Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi vowed to make pipeline protection a priority for his administration, reports Bloomberg News. The Jordanian government said it asked for an increase in the volume of natural gas delivered from Egypt. Natural gas supplies from Egypt have been disrupted for a total of 150 days since the revolution. Amman had considered securing natural gas supplies from its neighbors. In June, Iraq approved a memorandum of understanding that spells out the terms for a natural gas pipeline to the port of Aqaba. The pipeline could take five years to build. Jordan gets about 80 percent of its domestic energy demands met through imported natural resources.