Egypt fast-tracks Meleiha gas project ahead of 30 June deadline before summer peak
Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Karim Badawy ordered on Saturday the acceleration of expansion works at the Meleiha gas processing plant in the Western Desert to bring new production online before 30 June, aiming to boost domestic gas supplies ahead of peak summer demand.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Badawy made the remarks during an inspection tour of oil and gas production sites operated by Agiba Petroleum Company in the Meleiha fields, accompanied by senior officials and representatives from Italy’s Eni, a key partner in Egypt’s energy sector.
The minister reviewed progress on the second phase of the Meleiha gas treatment plant expansion, being implemented by Agiba Petroleum, Petrojet, and energy services firm SLB. The expansion is intended to increase gas volumes fed into the national grid and enable additional wells to be brought into production.
Badawy called for completion of the second phase before 30 June, saying it would support energy supply stability and help reduce import needs during the high-demand summer period.
He said health, safety, and occupational standards remain a priority, particularly as construction activity intensifies and the workforce rises to about 5,000 working around the clock. He urged strict compliance with safety procedures despite accelerated timelines.
The minister said the government is committed to removing obstacles facing project execution and coordinating with state institutions to provide immediate support when needed. He also highlighted the role of modern contracting models in improving efficiency and speeding up upstream oil and gas development.
Agiba Petroleum Chairman Abdel Salam Al-Manzlawy said the second phase will raise the plant’s capacity to 100 million cubic feet of gas per day, more than three times the first phase. Total output is expected to reach about 125 million cubic feet per day in fiscal year 2026/27, up from around 55 million currently. The project is 79 per cent complete.
He said an urgent production ramp-up plan through July 2026 includes drilling 11 new wells and carrying out 26 maintenance and workover operations, expected to add about 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Badawy also inspected the EDC-41 drilling rig operated by the Egyptian Drilling Company, which is drilling the Garden-2 well in the Meliha area. Initial production is expected within 15 days at around 3 million cubic feet of gas per day and 500 barrels of crude oil.
During the visit, the minister spoke with workers, reviewed their suggestions, and said human capital remains central to the petroleum sector. He said round-the-clock field operations are essential to securing energy supplies and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to safe working conditions.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: Y.Yasser