Beirut - Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Alan Tabourian said natural gas shipments to be used for electricity production, will begin to arrive from Egypt to Lebanon at the beginning of 2009, local Lebanese media reported Saturday.

"Egypt assured us that Lebanon will receive natural gas at the beginning of 2009 and would supply it until 2013," the Voice of Lebanon Radio station quoted the minister as saying.

The Lebanese government hopes to reduce the national energy bill by 30 percent by switching from oil to natural gas.

Tabourian was part of a team headed by Prime Minister Fouad Seniora that visited Egypt for two days. Lebanon signed several agreements in Cairo, including one on natural gas.

The Lebanese minister has projected a deficit close to 2 billion dollars in 2009 based on an oil price of 100 dollars per barrel. (dpa)