Egypt’s energy sector is firing on multiple cylinders, with the Egyptian Natural Gas Company (GASCO) expanding its flagship processing facility, Italian major Eni intensifying exploration operations, and US independent Apache recording a new gas discovery — all in a coordinated push to meet rising domestic summer demand.
GASCO Western Desert Complex Hits 1.5 bcf/d
The Western Desert Gas Complex has reached a total design capacity of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) following the launch of trial operations for the new ‘Train D’ production line. GASCO Chairman Mohamed Marzouk said the new line added 600 million cubic feet per day in capacity, with actual operating rates already exceeding 500 mmcf/d. The expansion was executed by an Egyptian consortium comprising Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (ENPPI) and Petroleum Projects and Technical Consultations Company (PETROJET).
Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi, who conducted a field tour of Western Desert production sites, said the infrastructure bolsters the sector’s ability to process natural gas before pumping it into the national grid and supports the localisation of Egypt’s petrochemical industry by supplying separated gas derivatives as raw materials to domestic plants — reducing the national import bill. The complex supplies Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Company (Sidpec) and the Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (ETHYDCO), while also extracting LPG and producing condensates for refineries.
Eni Pledges Intensified Drilling
In a separate meeting with Eni’s Head of North Africa and Levant Region, Diego Portoghese, Minister Badawi praised progress at the Meleiha concession in the Western Desert and ongoing intensive operations at Abu Madi field in the Nile Delta. Portoghese confirmed that activities will be further intensified in the coming period, supported by advanced technical capabilities, to meet rising domestic demand — particularly during the summer months. Eni leads production from major assets including the offshore Zohr field, Nooros, and Baltim W in the Mediterranean, contributing around 40% of Egypt’s natural gas output.
Apache Strikes New Gas Discovery
US major Apache, in collaboration with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), made a new natural gas discovery in the Western Desert on March 24. Preliminary test results from the SKAL-1X exploratory well in the South Kalabsha area show daily production of approximately 26 million cubic feet of natural gas and 2,700 barrels of condensates. The company — present in Egypt since the mid-1990s through its joint venture at Khalda Petroleum — met with Minister Badawi to review new contractual models designed to maximise operational efficiency and encourage further investment.
Sources: egyptoil-gas.com