Belayim Petroleum Company (Petrobel) held a community consultation meeting in Port Said to discuss the evaluation of the environmental and social impact of the development of the Zohr field in Shorouk area in the Mediterranean Sea, Oil Ministry informed in a press release.

During the meeting, technical requirements and ways to achieve international standards of safety and security in the project were discussed. Petrobel’s Chairman and Managing Director, Atef Hassan, stated that the meeting demonstrates company’s commitment to the local environmental laws and regulations, the international agreements and treaties, as well as the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency’s instructions to ensure the approval of the civil society.

The chairman added that the meeting aims at introducing the civil society to the project, reviewing the environmental impacts, and looking into the company’s plan in minimizing environmental damages.

Adel Al-Ghadban, Governor of Port Said, a number of MPs, Port Said University Chancellor, representatives from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and the executive officials of the governorate were all present at the meeting.

The Zohr field reserves amount to roughly 30tcf of natural gas, which will be allocated to meet the local market needs. Investments are worth approximately $12b. It is expected that production will be launched at the end of 2017, according to the specified development plan, with an initial rate of 1bcf/d of gas, before it reaches a peak of roughly 2.7bcf/d in 2019.