Egypt is continuing to strengthen its domestic gas sector through a series of onshore discoveries aimed at boosting supply amid rising demand. The latest find underscores the country’s strategic push to expand production and attract investment.
On Monday, the Petroleum and Mineral Resources Authority announced that Khalda Petroleum Company struck gas at the exploratory well Gomana-1, with electrical logs confirming gas-bearing zones.
Initial tests indicate a production rate of approximately 36 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d). The authority added that testing and reserve evaluations are ongoing ahead of the well’s scheduled inclusion on the national production map on Wednesday.
According to the authority, the find comes in the context of newly introduced investment incentives aimed at accelerating exploration and production across Khalda’s acreage.
Khalda’s Role in Egypt’s Onshore Production
Khalda Petroleum, one of Egypt’s largest onshore joint ventures. has long been a major contributor to Western Desert output. Its fields typically deliver fast-cycle, lower-cost volumes, complementing the country’s more technically demanding offshore hubs.
This latest discovery builds on earlier finds in June and November, highlighting the Western Desert’s growing importance for Egypt’s energy supply.
On 8 November, the ministry confirmed a gas strike at the Badr-15 field, operated by Badr El Din Petroleum, producing approximately 16 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) with an estimated 15 billion cubic feet of recoverable resources. The ministry said the field is expected to add roughly 15 billion cubic feet to Egypt’s reserves.
Officials emphasized that these discoveries reflect government incentives to attract investment, gradually boost production, and reduce imports.
While each find is modest on its own, together they demonstrate the Western Desert’s role as a source of quick-turnaround, cost-efficient additions to Egypt’s gas supply, helping the country meet rising domestic demand and strengthen energy security.
National Production Targets
Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi said the ministry plans to raise gas production to between 6.4 and 6.6 billion cubic feet per day over the next five years, supported by major investments from international companies.
He added that 2026 will see the drilling of 14 exploratory wells in the Mediterranean, targeting reserves of approximately 12 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Badawi noted that domestic gas and petroleum production had declined since 2021 due to reduced investment, but recent reforms aimed at improving the investment climate have halted the decline and restored growth.
Broader Strategy
These discoveries, combined with planned offshore exploration, form part of Egypt’s broader strategy to meet domestic gas demand, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen the country’s position as a regional energy hub.
