RIYADH: Egypt has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta capable of producing around 50 million cubic feet per day, as the country steps up efforts to restore domestic energy output.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said the discovery followed the successful drilling of the Nidoco N-2 exploratory well in the West Abu Madi concession area in Kafr El-Sheikh, operated by Eni in partnership with BP, according to the State Information Service.
The latest find also follows a broader push to restore investor confidence in the sector, with Egypt reducing arrears owed to foreign oil and gas partners from $6.1 billion in June 2024 to $714 million by the end of April 2026.
“Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi said the well was drilled from onshore using advanced directional drilling technology to target offshore reserves in shallow waters, helping reduce costs and improve operational efficiency,” the ministry said in a release.
The minister noted that the well’s proximity to existing infrastructure — less than 2 km from nearby production facilities — will enable swift tie-in and early production within the coming weeks.
Badawi said the discovery, together with increased production from existing fields, reflects the sector’s progress in settling dues owed to foreign partners, adding that the remaining arrears are expected to be fully settled by the end of June.
He said regular payments have encouraged international partners to expand exploration and drilling activity, while also supporting investment through extended agreements.
The discovery also adds to renewed exploration momentum by Eni in Egypt. In April, Reuters reported that the Italian energy group made a separate gas and condensate discovery in the Temsah concession in the Eastern Mediterranean, with preliminary estimates of about 2 trillion cubic feet of gas and 130 million barrels of associated condensates.
The discovery is expected to support Egypt’s domestic gas supply and optimize the use of existing infrastructure, while underscoring Eni’s continued exploration activity in the country.
