Suez Canal not affected by decreased petroleum prices

Admiral Ahmed Ali Fadel, head of the Suez Canal organization, said that the canal's income was not affected by the decrease in international petroleum prices, saying that the number of ships carrying natural gas through the canal has increased in comparison with the number of those that crossed in 1993.

He told ArabicNews.com that the organization called for the support of one of the foreign countries in developing the new harbor in east Port Said so that the project can be opened on time.

He also added, "There is a project for developing the canal to increase its depth to 72 feet by the year 2010."