PA and Egypt agree to develop natural gas field off Gaza
The Palestinian Authority and Egypt sign a memorandum of understanding on developing a natural gas field off the coast of Gaza, the parties say.
“The visit to Palestine reflects the direct interest of the Egyptian leadership in cooperation between the two brotherly countries,” Egyptian Energy Minister Tariq al-Mulla says in a statement.
Since it was discovered in 2000, the Gaza Marine field has been seen as a way to bring the Palestinian territories to energy independence. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza currently receive the vast majority of their electricity from Israel.
Political considerations have prevented the development of the field so far, however.