Egypt has announced a new natural gas find in the Nile Delta capable of producing around 50 million cubic feet per day, as Cairo intensifies efforts to boost domestic output and stabilize energy supplies amid rising consumption pressures.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources stated that the successful drilling of the exploratory well “Nidoco N-2” in the West Abu Madi concession area in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate led to the new gas find. The concession is operated by Italian energy major Eni in partnership with BP.
According to the Ministry, the EDC-56 drilling rig carried out operations approximately three kilometres offshore in shallow waters with a depth of around 10 metres. However, the well itself was drilled from onshore using advanced directional drilling technologies, helping reduce operational costs while improving drilling efficiency and accelerating development plans.
Officials emphasized that the well’s close proximity to existing production infrastructure represents a major commercial advantage. Located less than two kilometres from nearby production facilities, the project can be rapidly connected to the national gas network within the coming weeks, allowing early-stage production with limited additional capital expenditure.
While modest compared to Egypt’s giant offshore fields such as Zohr, the new find is considered commercially attractive due to its relatively low development costs and the speed at which output can be integrated into the existing network. Industry observers note that infrastructure-linked gas finds have become increasingly important as Egypt seeks to maximise returns from mature concession areas while limiting spending pressures.
The Ministry added that the project reflects Egypt’s broader strategy of maximising the use of existing infrastructure, increasing local gas production, and strengthening supplies to the domestic market amid growing energy demand. Officials said recent exploration activity reflects efforts to restore investor confidence and encourage further upstream investment through closer cooperation with international energy companies.
The latest development adds to a series of exploration successes achieved by Eni in Egypt over recent years and comes as Cairo works to reverse declines in domestic gas production recorded since 2023. Analysts view the development as part of Egypt’s wider efforts to strengthen domestic supply security and preserve its position within Eastern Mediterranean energy markets.
