Jerusalem - Explosion early Wednesday on a gas pipeline in the Northern Sinai Peninsula cut off supplies of Egyptian natural gas in Israel for the second time, this year, according to Egyptian and Israeli officials in what many here suspected of was an act of sabotage by Bedouins of the or of Palestinians.
The explosion came the Cairo authorities began to investigate public suspicion of corruption and mismanagement by the former Government of Mubarak in its exports of gas agreement with Israel. It also generated renewed in Israel calls for the country reduce its dependence on external sources and accelerate the development of its own newly found gas fields.
"Regional instability is likely to continue in the short term, and we need to reach energy independence," Danny Ayalon, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, said in a statement.
Details of the who led the attack remains unclear. Egyptian security officials said a package containing TNT caused the explosion. There was no immediate report of casualties and it was not known repair how long would take.
Gas flow rate of the main terminal at Port said on the Mediterranean coast, has been closed to smother the flames shot as high as 65 feet, Associated Press reported.
While the inspection of the site, Abdul-Wahab Mabrouk, the Governor of the Northern Sinai, said that the explosion also damaged a local power plant and that gas leaks were forced to evacuate their homes, according to The A.P.
Egyptian gas represents about 40% of the Israel gas needs. Uzi Landau, the Israeli national infrastructure Minister, told Army Radio Wednesday that there was enough gas in the pipeline for the next few days, after which the Israel electricity company, which is almost entirely owned by the State, would lead to a solution.
Israeli officials stated that the shortfall may be offset by the use of renewable alternatives such as coal and diesel, as well as the natural gas Israel has already produced.
"We always have this option," said Maya Etzioni, spokesman for the Ministry of National Infrastructure. "We will not be left without electricity."
Mr. Landau also told the Army Radio that Israel had authorized forces Egyptian additional security to enter the Sinai to repair the pipeline, beyond the number of forces normally allowed under the terms of the peace treaty of 1979 between the two countries in the region.
Egyptian officials, said that supplies of Egyptian gas in Jordan were also interrupted by the explosion on Wednesday.
Israel gas exports have been at the heart of the review of the public in Egypt since the pipeline opened in 2008. The price at which the Egypt sells gas in Israel has never been officially announced, but it is widely accepted to be sold at a preferential rate, and there was widespread speculation of corruption and graft surrounding the secret agreement. Week last the Egypt Prosecutor began questioning the former President Hosni Mubarak, with six other former officials, on gas exports.
The Egypt in Israel gas supply closed for more than a month after four armed men stormed a terminal on 5 February gas North Sinai and trigger explosives there.
In the Sinai Bedouin tribes have long has complained of discrimination by the Egyptian authorities and confronted with the Egyptian security services, such as mass demonstrations spread earlier this year, toppling Mr Mubarak.
Mona El-Naggar contributed reporting from Cairo.
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