Egypt's Damietta Port Drone Strike Threatens LNG Exports

A drone strike on Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta damaged two gas vessels – the U.S.-owned floating storage and regasification unit Energos Winter and the Greek‑flagged LNG carrier GasLog Salem – and sparked a fire that burned for 12‑14 hours. No casualties were reported. Egyptian authorities activated contingency measures, switching power plants to fuel oil and diesel and integrating a standby regasification vessel from Jordan’s Aqaba into the national gas supply, while four other floating regasification units remain on standby at other ports.

The attack, for which no group claimed responsibility, came a day after Eni and TotalEnergies announced a final investment decision on the Cronos gas project off Cyprus, which is expected to be liquefied at Damietta for export to Europe. The incident highlights growing security risks along the Mediterranean energy corridor and raises concerns for shipping through the nearby Suez Canal, a key route for Saudi oil and European gas supplies. Yemen’s Houthi movement and Iran have denied involvement.