The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) reports that Egyptian natural gas production has increased to 4.3 bcm/d , up 50 mscfd from the previous month.

Egypt Daily News reports that the increase is the result of two new production lines from BAPETCO and Balayem Petroleum Company. The two new wells produce 83 mscfd, compensating for declining production in other fields.

An official with the company noted that total production of Egyptian gas fields is currently decreasing faster than in fiscal year 2014/2015, at a decline rate of 130 mscf per month compared to 100 mscf per month over the previous year.

Domestic production has fallen due to maturing fields and unhappy partners, who have delayed production due to lapsed payments from the Egyptian Petroleum Ministry.

The Egyptian government is currently negotiating further import of natural gas, which would increase Egypt’s import of gas bill to EGP 1b per day.