A study by the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) forecasts that due to the recent gas discovery, Egypt will be able to double its natural gas production by 2018. According to the study Egypt is expected to add an average 2.8  bcf/ day of natural gas to its production levels. Such a boom will  make Egypt “able to reduce significantly the expected daily deficit of 3 bcf of natural gas in 2018,” stated the report, adding that it will also help address the current energy bill deficit of EGP 1.7b and ensure growth rates of 6% by fiscal year 20182019. In addition, the report explained that Egypt has the option to export up to 29% of the extracted gas while reserving the rest for domestic demand, allowing Egypt to once again be  “a net gas exporter,” and “strengthen the Egyptian pound”.