President Abdelfatah El Sisi has directed the Cabinet to extend the rate of oil and natural gas exploration, with a focus on maximizing the utilization of the country’s natural resources, Egyptian Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a statement on September 9.

During the cabinet meeting, chaired by the President, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, tackled the strategic plans that the government is preparing to meet the needs of the domestic market and bridge the gap between production and consumption.

El Molla reviewed the ministry’s recent accomplishments, including achieving Egypt’s self-sufficiency of natural gas, as well as developing the added-value petrochemicals industry to a fast-paced scale in line with the latest developments in the international market.

The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madboly; Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker; and Minister of Finance Mohamed  Maait.