Arab gas project almost complete

Cairo is to host Monday a ministerial meeting involving Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Turkey to address the latest developments concerning the Arab natural gas pipeline project.

"The four countries will celebrate the opening of this project by the end of this year, "Jordanian Minister of Energy Azmi Khurisat said.

He added that up to 90 percent of the project has been completed.

The ministers will also discuss the implementation of the third stage of an Arab gas pipeline.

The natural gas pipeline stretching from Aqaba to Rehab in Jordan will be operational soon and will be provided by natural gas exported from Egypt, Khurisat added.

This project is the first one to be implemented under BOT (Build-Operate-transfer) outside Egypt.

The joint Arab natural gas project will be implemented by a consortium comprising three Egyptian companies at investments of $ 300 million.

The project will enable Egypt to ultimately export its natural gas to all of "Europe via Turkey.