The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) is ramping up its efforts to attract Gulf investors, shifting its focus from policy discussions to hands-on infrastructure development in the region.
At a recent event in Washington DC, EMGF secretary-general Osama Mobarez outlined the forum’s new strategy: seeking financial backing from Middle Eastern and Gulf states to help fund major projects like pipelines, LNG terminals, power grids, and other vital energy assets. This marks a significant evolution for the Cairo-based alliance, which previously concentrated on aligning energy policies and fostering cooperation among Mediterranean gas producers and consumers.
EMGF’s members—Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, and the Palestinian Territories—have historically focused on regulatory alignment and offshore gas exploration. Now, the group wants to turn political agreements into real-world, bankable projects.
“If we’re talking about projects and infrastructure, this means that we will need investments,” Mobarez said, emphasizing the forum’s unique ability to bring together governments, regulators, and private sector players. Gulf sovereign wealth funds and regional energy investors are seen as key partners in scaling up these capital-intensive projects.
The forum’s updated strategy will keep natural gas as its core but also branch out into areas like electricity interconnections and renewables, reflecting both the global energy transition and the region’s ongoing need for secure energy supplies.
A dedicated project development unit is being created to identify priority projects, structure them to meet international investment standards, and make them more attractive to foreign direct investors. Rather than replacing governments or private companies, this unit will act as a facilitator—packaging initiatives and creating a business-friendly environment to unlock new funding sources and speed up infrastructure delivery.
With global energy markets in flux due to geopolitical tensions and security concerns, the EMGF’s push to bring Gulf capital into the mix signals a new phase. The goal: To turn Mediterranean gas cooperation from talk into action, building real projects that deliver regional benefits for years to come.
