The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, urged Agiba Petroleum Company and Pharaonic Petroleum Company (PHPC) to increase the number of their development and exploration wells in order to boost both companies' production plans. The minister noted that the recent discoveries in the Western Desert only prove that the region has not yet revealed all its untapped potential.

BP began natural gas production from its offshore Qattameya field in the North Damietta offshore concession through its joint venture (JV); the Pharaonic Petroleum Company (PhPC).

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources is preparing to drill two new wells in the Mediterranean fields of Atoll and Katameya in the North Damietta offshore concession with about $289 million in investments.