Egyptian PM in Jordan Thursday

Egypt's Ambassador to Jordan Khaled Tharwat stressed the importance of Prime Minister Hisham Qandil's visit to Amman on Thursday, saying the visit aims at boosting bilateral relations. In statements to MENA on Tuesday, Tharwat said the visit - the first by an Egyptian premier to Amman after the January 25 Revolution - will provide a good opportunity for consolidating ties between the two countries. During his visit, Qandil will discuss with the Jordanian side several issues, topped by Egypt's supplies of natural gas to Jordan, Tharwat added. Earlier this month, a Jordanian source said that the kingdom has asked Egypt to increase its gas supplies from 240 to 450 million cubic feet daily. Egypt is currently supplying Jordan with 100 million cubic feet of gas daily. This quantity represents just 20 to 25 percent of the amount of gas agreed upon in the original deal between the two sides, the source added. Under the agreement signed in 2004, Jordan could use Egyptian gas to generate 80 percent of its electricity in 2009. The deal with Egypt was amended in 2011 with a price increase. In 2011, the two countries sat down again to amend the price from 2.15 dollars to more than five dollars per one million British thermal units.