Morsi, Putin discuss supplying Egypt with Russian gas

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have discussed the possibility of the deliveries of Russian natural gas to Egypt as the North African country may soon become an importer to revive its weakened economy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. The presidents met on Wednesday in Durban ,on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa. "Morsi expressed interest in the deliveries of Russian gas," Lavrov told reporters in Durban, Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported. Egypt is facing the possibility to become importer of natural gas for the first time in its history as domestic production fails to keep pace with demand growth in the aftermath of the January 2011 revolt that ousted Hosni Mubarak and months of civil unrest that followed. For his part, Egyptian Oil Minister Osama Kamal said last November that industry would be allowed to import gas in the second half of 2013. Factories will be permitted to import a maximum of 1 billion cubic feet a day, he said.