Armed men again blew up the natural gas pipeline from Sinai, at a point just before its splits into the pipeline that goes to Israel and the pipeline that goes to Jordan. The bombing again halted gas deliveries to Jordan. This was the 15th attack on the pipeline since February 2011.
"Reuters" reports witnesses and a security official as saying that gunmen in a small truck drove up to the pipeline, dug a hole, and placed explosive charges under the pipeline that they detonated from a distance. It also quotes an official of EGAS, which operates the pipeline, as saying that gas exports to Israel and Jordan had been halted since April, and that the flames were caused by residual gas.
However, Residents in al-Arish said that gas shipments had begun three days ago through the pipeline.
In April, Egypt cancelled the gas agreement with Israel, in what was claimed to be a business dispute.
No organization has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, although Bedouin tribes have been in dispute with the government in Cairo.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 22, 2012
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