Egypt is renewing efforts to position itself as a major natural gas supplier to Europe, with Greece once again emerging as a key gateway for transporting Egyptian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to European markets.
The initiative was highlighted during discussions at the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) in Washington, where Egyptian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi emphasized the importance of strengthening energy links between the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Under the concept being promoted by Egypt, Greece would serve as a strategic transit hub, enabling LNG shipments to reach Central and Southeastern Europe through the region’s developing Vertical Corridor infrastructure.
Egypt’s renewed push comes as its gas sector shows signs of recovery after a difficult period marked by declining production, rising domestic consumption, and economic pressures that previously led to IMF-backed support measures in 2022. Those challenges temporarily turned Egypt from an LNG exporter into a net importer of liquefied gas.
Recent developments, however, have improved the outlook. New hydrocarbon discoveries, including projects led by Eni, alongside efforts to attract foreign investment, are expected to gradually increase domestic gas production. Cairo has also introduced policies allowing international energy companies to export part of their output as LNG in order to recover outstanding payments and sustain investment activity. One example is Energean, which received $125 million during the first quarter of 2026 as part of debt repayments.
The EMGF meeting also highlighted broader geopolitical energy dynamics in the region. The forum reconvened after a three-year hiatus and brought together representatives from Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Italy, France, the European Union, the United States, the World Bank, and the State of Palestine. It marked the first time since 2023 that Israeli and Palestinian representatives participated in the same forum discussions.
While no major agreements were announced, the gathering signaled renewed regional engagement on energy cooperation. Turkey remains outside the EMGF framework and continues to advocate for a greater role in approving regional energy projects, a stance that remains at odds with the forum’s existing cooperative structure.
