The Egyptian government has announced it aims to deliver natural gas to 2.6 million homes, during the next three years (FY 2014/2015 and FY 2016/2017) with investment cost of more than LE2 billion, according to Petroleum Minister Sherif Ismail on Tuesday.
Egyptian Holding Company for Natural Gas "EGAS" signed several contracts with natural gas delivery companies for the next two years, and the remaining period of 2014/2015, the minister added.
He continued, that the signing of contracts stimulates companies operating in the field of natural gas delivery in order to implement the ambitious target of the state plan during the next three years.
The government focuses on the delivery of natural gas to popular areas and Upper Egypt, which is characterized by high population density, he added.
Egypt has attempted continuously to increase the use of natural gas in order to rationalize spending on energy subsidies.
"The Petroleum Ministry plans to expand the delivery of gas to homes to reduce pressure on LPG, which is imported from abroad," Ismail said.
EGAS Chairman Khalid Abdalibdaa pointed out that this year's plan includes natural gas delivery to 850,000 housing units, as well as 829,000 units during the year 2015/2016 and 882,000 units during the year 2016/2017.
Upper Egypt governorates will acquire 16.5 percent of the deliveries from the total number of targeted housing units during the three-year plan, Abdalibdaa added.
