Jordan denies Israel involvement in Egyptian Gas project

High-level Jordanian source Sunday denied that Israel would take part in the natural gas agreement signed between Egypt and Jordan, stressing that Syria and Lebanon did not withdraw from the agreement.

By this agreement, Egyptian natural gas will be transferred to Jordanian City of AL Qaba in 2003.

In statements to AL Aswaq newspaper, the source ruled out as groundless Israeli reports that Lebanon and Syria had withdrawn from the project.

He added that Egypt and Jordan would set a timetable to put into effect the natural gas agreement signed in April.

He said the Jordanian energy ministry would invite investors soon to build a pipeline to transfer gas from AL Aqba to central and northern Jordan them later to Syria and Lebanon as a first stage.

The pipelines are expected to reach Turkey and Europe in the second stage.

The project's cost is estimated at $ 200 million and will be carried out under build, operate and transfer (BOT) system.

The source set December 20 as a deadline for receiving tenders from companies interested in the project.