Natgas regulator issues 18 licenses, none for private sector gas imports: The Natural Gas Regulatory Authority issued 18 natural gas import and distribution licenses in Egypt, government sources told the local press. The two gas import licenses went to EGAS, with the private sector still not receiving official licenses to import gas. It was a different matter for distribution licenses, 13 of which were awarded to private sector companies, and three going to the state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Company (Gasco). This license will allow the companies to expand and build up the natural gas distribution grid, the source noted.

Background: The authority, which was made responsible for licensing in 2017  under the Natural Gas Act, postponed its first issuance in September, saying the private sector was “unprepared,” a position that the Oil Ministry appeared to reverse in offhand comments following the signing of the natural gas import agreement with Israel. The authority is handling requests from at least 14 companies, including Rosneft. It also set fees last year for the private sector’s use of the state’s natgas grid. It was reported in the local press that the regulator would begin issuing import licenses to the private sector last month.