Egypt Signs East Mediterranean Gas Forum Charter

Egypt has signed the East Mediterranean Gas Forum’s (EMGF) charter, making it a formally established international organization that unites gas producers and importers. In a teleconference, Egypt hosted the signing ceremony of the EMGF, with the participation of seven ministers from different countries across the East Mediterranean region. Originally, the bloc was an informal forum of Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, and Greec. Major companies, such as Total, Eni, Novatek and Exxon, have singed exploration and production agreements. Representatives of Palestine and Jordan have attended the meetings of the EMGF. On 16thjan. 2020, the EMGF became an international body. Subsequently, France and the United States asked to join the forum, as a member and permanent observer respectively Egyptian Minister of Petroleum TarekAl-Molla praised the forum during the teleconference, calling it a major breakthrough that will help optimize member states’ oil and gas reserves while establishing solidified dialogue and cooperation between them. Al-Molla further praised the EMGF for finalizing the charter in a record 20 months despite global circumstances.

In addition to France, who witnessed the signing of the charter, the EMGF is supported and recognized by the European Union, World Bank, and the United States.

The forum, which excludes Turkey, said they are open for any membership submissions by any other state within the Eastern Mediterranean, with minister Al-Molla noting the organization’s willingness to welcome other countries given that they share the same goals and condemn any acts of violence.

This comes right after Greece and Turkey’s conflict over energy claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, with Ankara announcing it would expand its search for gas resources near the disputed region.

Tensions continued to escalate when Egypt signed a maritime demarcation deal with Greece which establishes an exclusive economic zone between the two countries. However, talks between Greece and Turkey over the disputed zones are expected to continue after Ankara pulled back an oil and gas exploration vessel near the shore of Crete.