Officials at the Egyptian natural gas company Gasco have no plans to repair the gas pipeline to Israel after it was bombed Sunday for the 15th time since the 25 January revolution.
An official source at the company told Al-Masry Al-Youm that all activities have been brought to a halt at the main natural gas station in Sheikh Zuwayed, near Arish in North Sinai Governorate. The source added, however, that pipeline repairs do not typically take a long time.
Meanwhile, the Arish Public Prosecution has resumed investigations into the attack, which was carried out by unknown armed assailers.
A team of prosecutors, a bomb squad and forensic investigators went to the scene of the explosion to search for any evidence that would lead to the perpetrators.
Prosecutors summoned the pipeline’s watchmen for interrogation, and the Petroleum Ministry formed a panel to assess the damages.
Attacks on the Egyptian pipeline carrying natural gas to Israel and Jordan had stopped briefly for four months after Egypt decided to suspend gas supplies to Israel.
Egypt signed a gas deal with Israel in 2004, but the agreement was widely unpopular among Egyptians, and many have called for its cancellation since the 25 January revolution.
No attackers’ identities have been discovered after any of the explosions.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
