Egypt is exploring ways to increase natural gas production in the Nile Delta as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic energy supplies, following talks between Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi and executives from Harbour Energy.
The discussions focused on expanding production from the Desouk gas field in the Nile Delta and reviewing the company’s broader operations in Egypt, including natural gas and condensate output.
Badawi said the recent growth in production from the Desouk area represents a success story driven by the ministry’s incentive measures, which were introduced to stimulate investment in exploration and drilling activities.
These policies, he noted, have helped offset the natural decline in gas production from mature fields while supporting a renewed increase in output levels.
The meeting also reviewed joint work programs with BP, the main operator of the West Nile Delta and North Alexandria offshore gas fields, where new drilling plans are underway.
During the talks, the minister emphasized Egypt’s commitment to regularly settling payments owed to international partners.
He said the government will continue paying the monthly invoices of energy companies on time, while also working to clear remaining arrears, most of which have already been significantly reduced.
Officials believe these steps will encourage further investment aimed at boosting domestic production and reducing the country’s reliance on imported energy.
On his part, Sameh Sabry reviewed recent developments in the Desouk area, highlighting a promising new gas discovery.
The first well from the discovery, known as the “Ezz” well, has already been brought online, while a second well is expected to start production soon. The company is also planning to drill additional wells in the coming period.
According to Sabry, the recent successes have helped increase gas and condensate production in the Desouk area to around 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
He described the results as economically significant, particularly because the field is located in a low-cost onshore area, which improves project profitability.
Sabry also outlined Harbour Energy’s drilling plans for this year in cooperation with BP in the West Nile Delta offshore fields, reflecting a broader expansion of exploration and development activities in the region.
He added that the company is also evaluating the potential for discovering crude oil in the Desouk area for the first time, which could further enhance the region’s energy potential.
The discussions come as Egypt continues to prioritize increasing domestic gas production to support power generation, industrial demand, and export ambitions amid volatile global energy markets.
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