Egypt and Qatar have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding cooperation in liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade and imports, Egypt’s petroleum ministry announced on Sunday.

Under the agreement, Qatar will supply LNG cargoes to Egypt through the Ain Sokhna and Damietta ports. QatarEnergy confirmed that the deal provides for the delivery of up to 24 LNG shipments to Egypt during the coming summer period.

The move comes as Egypt works to secure reliable energy supplies to meet rising domestic demand. While the country has been seeking to boost its own natural gas output and position itself as a regional energy hub, production has declined since late 2022, increasing the need for imports.

To bridge the gap, Egypt has turned to gas supplies from Israel and Cyprus, alongside LNG imports, which are typically more expensive. Official data show that Egypt’s gas production in October rose slightly from September levels but remained lower than output recorded in the same month the previous year.

Despite the challenges, Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said recently that the government remains committed to achieving self-sufficiency in oil and gas, according to a cabinet statement.

The agreement with Qatar is expected to provide short-term relief as Egypt manages supply pressures while pursuing longer-term production and energy security goals.