The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) plans to launch new bid round in 2026, offering natural gas exploration licenses across several areas in the Western Mediterranean, according to Chairman and Executive Managing Director Sayed Selim.
The plan also includes drilling 17 exploratory wells during the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY), and commencing the first phase of the seismic survey project in the Eastern Mediterranean during the second half (H2) of the year.
During the meeting, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi stated that EGAS plays a pivotal role in securing and sustaining natural gas supplies for all sectors of the state, most notably power plants, industrial sectors, and residential homes.
The meeting reviewed the status of recent exploratory wells, West Denis-1, Sirius, and Jannat-1, alongside preparations to drill four additional wells during the second half of FY 2025/26.
On the production front, EGAS plans to implement 6 new projects and complete 3 others, while placing 51 wells on the production map during FY 2026/27. Work is also underway to implement four projects and complete another, with the addition of 25 wells during H2 of the current FY.
Furthermore, the meeting discussed efforts to meet domestic natural gas demand and secure supplies for the electricity and industrial sectors, as well as projects to reinforce the national gas grid and connect residential units. During the first half (H1) of the current FY, 385,000 housing units were connected, while the plan targets extending gas services to 800,000 units during FY 2026/27.
Within the framework of state directives to alleviate the burden on citizens through the ‘Decent Life’ (Hayah Karima) initiative, which aims to provide gas connections to 841 of the most-needed villages, work has been completed in 675 villages, with the remainder currently being finalized.
Also approximately 43,000 cars were converted to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) during H1 of the current FY, with the implementation of the plan ongoing.
During the meeting, Badawi highlighted the importance of early preparation for the summer season by accelerating the connection of new wells to the production map, alongside intensifying well maintenance operations.
The Minister pointed out that current events in the Middle East and their repercussions on energy supplies have underscored the importance of the Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) . This serves as an urgent strategic solution to secure the state’s imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) needs, supporting supply stability and meeting the requirements of various sectors, especially during times of crisis.
Established in August 2001, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) is one of the primary state-owned entities under the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The company is tasked with managing Egypt’s natural gas sector, with a strategic focus on expanding exploration and production activities to secure domestic energy needs.
