Egypt’s gas production to reach 6B cubic feet daily by June

CAIRO – 18 February 2018: Egypt’s natural gas production will reach some six billion cubic feet a day by the end of fiscal year 2017/18, Deputy Chairman of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) for production and fields’ development Mohamed Abdel Azim said Sunday.

Abdel Azim said in press statements that nine projects for gas production are underway, including the completion of the first phase of Egypt’s giant Zohr gas field, which delivered its first gas in December.

This is in addition to the completion of the second phase of developing the north Alexandria and west Mediterranean fields, developing Nooros gas field in the Nile Delta and accelerating exploration in the Katameya concession in north Damietta, he added.

Egypt’s gas production currently stands at 5.5 billion cubic feet a day, after adding some 1.6 million cubic feet as a result of starting production from four projects, according to Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla.

The new discoveries are expected to turn Egypt into a net exporter of natural gas as the country is expected to halt gas imports by mid 2018.

Egypt has been intensifying natural gas exploration activities recently.
Last week, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum signed an agreement with oilfield services company Schlumberger to conduct a seismic survey in the Gulf of Suez.

Molla said that the Suez region is a promising area that requires more work and studies to further discover the oil and gas it possesses.

On Thursday, EGAS said it will issue a tender for onshore and offshore natural gas exploration in nine blocks.

The tender, which includes six offshore and three onshore blocks, will be issued before June 2018.

EGAS has put a plan to issue tenders for natural gas exploration annually, especially in the Mediterranean, which the company considers as a promising area for natural gas.