Egypt secures record LNG imports amid power squeeze

Egypt has agreed to purchase 150–160 liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes through 2026, Reuters reports, in what would be the country’s largest-ever LNG procurement. With domestic gas production at a nine-year low, Egypt resumed LNG imports last year and is now engaging major suppliers, including Aramco, Shell, Vitol, Trafigura, SOCAR and PetroChina, to secure its energy needs .

The deals—valued at over $8 billion—fundamentally reshape Egypt’s role from a prospective exporter to a dependent importer. Purchases are spread across 2025 and 2026, with some cargoes deferred and others on flexible schedules . This strategy aims to mitigate frequent power outages caused by the shortfall in domestic production, notably from the Zohr field and interrupted Israeli imports .

While essential for energy security, the LNG commitments add to fiscal and foreign‑currency pressures. Egypt’s government is now balancing urgent power needs with long-term economic strain, as it seeks IMF support amid a broader economic slump.