Cooler weather eases Egypt’s LNG import pressure ahead of summer

Unseasonably mild temperatures in Egypt are temporarily reducing the country’s need for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, offering a welcome break as the summer months approach, Bloomberg reports.

In recent years, North Africa has experienced intense heat, pushing Egypt from being a net LNG exporter to an importer. A combination of falling domestic gas production and growing demand for air conditioning led to power shortages and blackouts last summer.

This year, however, cooler-than-expected weather is helping ease the strain. According to data from Atmospheric G2, average temperatures in Egypt are expected to dip later this week, reducing the number of “cooling degree days” by nearly one-third in the first three weeks of April compared to 2024. Cooling degree days measure how much the average daily temperature exceeds 18°C and help forecast energy needs.

The current mild weather is delaying the need for increased LNG imports and allowing Egypt to briefly resume some LNG exports. This, in turn, is freeing up more gas supplies for Europe as it prepares for its key stockpiling period.

Still, as temperatures climb, Egypt is expected to return to importing LNG to meet growing domestic demand. To prepare, the country is reportedly arranging additional floating import terminals and has locked in supply deals. These agreements are aimed at reducing reliance on the spot market, where prices are often higher than those secured through long-term contracts.