Egypt LNG exports hit five-year high: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Egypt’s Idku liquefaction plant increased 44% in February to 391.3 mcm, according to analysis from Platts. This is the highest amount of LNG exported from Egypt since May 2013. Four cargoes were shipped during the month, including two to Turkey, one to France, and one Singapore. Oil Minister Tarek El Molla said last month that Idku operator and owner Shell increased its LNG exports to 800 mcf/d in February, from 500 mcf/d in January.

Export volumes will continue to rise: Platts projects that Egypt’s LNG exports will increase by 810 mcm over the course of the year due to production gains in the Zohr and West Nile Delta projects. This figure could increase further if the ministry manages to settle its dispute with Union Fenosa Gas (UFG) over the re-opening of the Damietta LNG facility. This resolution could be further off than we originally anticipated though, as UFG recently poured cold water on claims that the plant could reopen in April.