Egypt plans record gas exploration, fast-tracks new projects in 2026

Egypt is determined to accelerate new gas projects and expand exploration activity in 2026, aiming to increase domestic production and reduce costly imports ahead of the summer peak, the country’s petroleum minister said Sunday.

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawy met with senior officials from the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to review plans to bring new projects online expeditiously and connect them to the national gas network, according to a ministry statement. The discussions also focused on potential challenges to implementation and measures to address them.

Badawy highlighted that Egypt’s 2026 exploration programme will operate at record levels, with more than 100 oil and gas exploratory wells planned, including 14 offshore gas wells in the Mediterranean — an unprecedented pace.

Egypt is also seeking to widen the scope of gas exploration into deeper geological formations and previously untapped areas, which Badawy said could deliver a “qualitative leap” in gas production in the coming years.

He added that authorities are working to swiftly develop undeveloped gas discoveries that have yet to be exploited and bring them into production, while continuing to deploy modern technologies to maximise output from existing fields.

EGAS Executive Managing Director Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, along with his deputies, outlined work plans for increasing gas production, exploration, and drilling new wells in 2026. The meeting included senior ministry officials and representatives from state-linked engineering firm Petrojet.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English