Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met with senior executives from the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to review the progress of ongoing projects as well as future plans across the sector.

The minister directed stakeholders to provide all necessary support and facilitation measures to expedite the implementation of investment projects and remove any obstacles that could hinder their progress.

He also highlighted the importance of adopting innovative solutions and leveraging advanced technologies and international best practices to improve operational efficiency, enhance the investment climate, and strengthen the competitiveness of the gas sector.

Badawi further stressed the importance of sustaining investment flows into exploration, production, and field development activities, while accelerating the development of new discoveries.

He also underscored the need to expand natural gas transportation and distribution projects and continue upgrading infrastructure to support Egypt’s strategy of consolidating its position as a regional hub for gas trade and distribution, while meeting rising energy demand.

For his part, Sayed Selim, EGAS Executive Managing Director, and the company’s deputies, outlined ongoing efforts to manage and develop Egypt’s natural gas system, as well as future plans to support exploration and production activities and enhance infrastructure.

They reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implementing the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR )’s objectives, increasing production rates, achieving the highest levels of operational efficiency, adhering to project timelines, and maintaining the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental performance (HSE).

This year, the sector has recorded several new natural gas discoveries across the Mediterranean, the Nile Delta, and the Western Desert, reinforcing efforts to boost domestic production.

Topping the list is Eni’s Denise W-1 offshore discovery in the Mediterranean, with 2 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas initially in place. In the Nile Delta, a new natural gas discovery was made at the Nidoco N-2 exploratory well in Kafr El Sheikh, featuring an expected output of approximately 50 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d). The Western Desert also witnessed several discoveries, including the South Bostan-1X exploratory well, where initial estimates suggest reserves of around 330 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas.