Egypt to ramp up gas output from major concessions

Egypt is planning to increase natural gas output from major concessions, including its largest field Zohr, petroleum minister Karim Badawi has said.

The government intends to increase production at Zohr by drilling new wells starting in the first quarter of 2025, the ministry said in a statement.

Average production from the field remained at two billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in the fiscal year 2023-24 ended June.

Production at Zohr – Egypt’s largest natural gas field developed by Italy’s Eni – remained at 3.2 Bcf/d in 2019, but output fell to 1.9 Bcf/d by early 2024 due to foreign oil companies’ hesitance to invest as Egypt accumulated billions in arrears, Reuters reported.

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Last month, prime minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt plans to restore its natural gas production to normal levels by June 2025. 

Falling output from Zohr led to daily blackouts and forced Cairo to recommence LNG exports for the first time in years. The country has bought more than 50 LNG cargoes this year.