The Clap:
Egypt’s natural gas production and consumption declined in April, as did imports while the country’s exports rose for the first time since December, per the latest report by the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI).
First up, production:
According to JODI, Egypt’s natural gas production fell 5% in April to 4.26 billion cubic meters (cbm), compared to 4.49 billion cbm in March. During the first four months of the year, production declined by about 14% to 17.7 billion cbm compared to 20.5 billion meters in the same period last year.
Consumption fell month-on-month:
Domestic gas consumption saw a 4.5% downtick to reach 5.02 billion cbm compared to 5.26 billion cbm in March, despite the increase in gas consumption used in electricity generation in April to 2.85 billion cbm compared to 2.7 billion cbm in March.
Exports saw an increase for the first time since last year:
Egypt’s gas exports increased for the first time since December 2023 during April, reaching 209 million cbm.
But recorded a YoY decrease:
About 854 million cbm were exported during the first four months of the year, representing a 77.5% YoY decline compared to 3.8 billion cbm in the same period last year.
Remember:
Egypt halts exports in summer months to accommodate rising consumption amid heat waves. The strategy comes as state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company looks to issue an international tender in a bid to secure no less than 17 liquified natural gas shipments over the next three months to meet domestic demand.
Imports for April:
Pipeline imports fell about 3% to 905 million cbm compared to 932.5 million cbm in March, but rose during the first four months of the year by approximately 18% to record 3.6 billion cbm.
