據天然氣工業網站7月20日消息稱，埃及石油部長Tarek El Molla周三告訴記者，埃及的目標是在秋季開始的10月份恢復液化天然氣出口。

他說，在夏季氣溫較高的時候，埃及的大部分產量都被國內消費，但冬季有多余的產量可供出口。

El Molla補充說，去年夏季出口增加，因為政府從發電站使用天然氣轉向使用重油燃料油，以對抗天然氣價格的飆升。

他說：“我們出口了更多的天然氣，因為我們更多地依賴燃料油，而去年燃料油比天然氣便宜，所以進口重油，出口天然氣。如今情況正好相反。”

這位部長本月早些時候表示，由于季節性因素，埃及6月份沒有出口任何液化天然氣，并補充說，預計7月份將有一批出口。

但一些貿易消息人士對路透表示，他們認為6月出貨不足是國內產量下降的結果。

埃及是人口最多的阿拉伯國家，一直在尋求將自己定位為地區能源中心，其戰略位置是供應本國天然氣，并將以色列的天然氣以液化天然氣的形式再出口到中東、非洲和歐洲。

曹海斌 摘譯自 天然氣工業 網站

原文如下：

Egypt aims to resume gas exports by October

Egypt is targeting a resumption of liquefied natural gas exports by October at the start of autumn, petroleum minister Tarek El Molla told reporters on Wednesday.

Most of Egypt's production is consumed domestically in the summer when temperatures are high, but there are excess quantities available for export during winter, the minister said.

El Molla added that summer exports increased last year because the government switched from using natural gas in power stations to mazut fuel oil in order to bank on the higher natural gas prices.

"We exported more gas because we relied more on fuel oil which last year was cheaper than natural gas so I'd import mazut and export natural gas," said El Molla. "Today it’s the opposite."

Egypt had not exported any LNG in June because of seasonal factors, the minister said earlier this month, adding that a shipment was expected in July.

Some trading sources have told Reuters they believed the lack of shipments in June was a result of declining domestic production.

Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has sought to position itself as a regional energy hub, strategically located to supply its own gas and re-exported Israeli gas as LNG to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.