Eni starts up second phase of Egypt’s Meleiha gas project
The new Western Desert facility is designed to process up to 100 million cubic feet of gas daily, supporting efforts to boost domestic supply
Italian energy group Eni has begun start-up operations at the second phase of its Meleiha Project in Egypt’s Western Desert, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said on Tuesday.
The new facility is designed to process up to 100 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The project is operated by Agiba Petroleum, a joint venture between Eni and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), and is intended to establish a new gas-processing hub within the Meleiha concession.
The new facility will expand the capacity to process gas from fields in the area, supporting efforts to increase domestic production and make greater use of Egypt’s energy resources, the ministry said.
The second phase includes development wells, production-gathering systems, main transportation pipelines and a dedicated gas pipeline.
The infrastructure will connect new output to Egypt’s existing gas network, helping bring resources into production and improve operational efficiency, the ministry said.
“Meleiha Phase 2 includes an integrated infrastructure system comprising development wells, gathering systems, trunklines and a new dedicated gas export pipeline. These facilities will ensure the connection of new production to Egypt’s existing gas infrastructure, enabling the rapid monetization of resources and enhanced operational efficiency.” Eni said.
The project is also expected to increase natural gas availability in the domestic market. The facilities were developed with a focus on operational efficiency, safety and environmental sustainability, according to the ministry.
Eni said the launch of the project confirms its role as “a strategic partner” of Egypt and reaffirms its “long-standing commitment to contributing to the country’s energy security through the development and valorisation of the Western Desert’s diversified resource base, one of the most promising areas of Egypt’s energy sector.”
Eni has operated in Egypt since 1954 and is currently the country’s largest energy producer. Its hydrocarbon production averaged about 242,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day on an equity basis in 2025.
Through its subsidiaries and joint ventures, Eni operates across Egypt’s energy sector, including exploration, development and production activities in the Western Desert, the Gulf of Suez, the Nile Delta, and the eastern Mediterranean.
Subediting: Y.Yasser