Karim Badawi, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, stated that Egypt’s natural gas sector has returned to achieving positive results after years of challenges, at the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), held on Monday in Doha under Libya’s presidency.
Leading the Egyptian delegation at the forum, the minister added that domestic gas production recorded its first increase in three years last August, driven by a new operational strategy, structural reforms, and incentive measures that restored investor confidence.
Badawi also stated that several major international energy companies, including Eni, Shell, bp, and TotalEnergies, have announced ambitious investment programs for natural gas exploration and development in Egypt over the next five years.
He further noted that the Zohr gas field currently contributes around 23% of Egypt’s total natural gas production, underscoring its strategic role in supporting the local market.
He also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to strengthen its liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure through the addition of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) in Ain Sokhna and Damietta. He said that these steps reinforce Egypt’s position as a pivotal regional energy hub linking Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
The meeting was attended by Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, along with ministers, heads of delegations from member and observer countries, and the forum’s Secretary General, Mohamed Hamel. The Egyptian delegation also included Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, Chairman of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Amr Ashraf, Egypt’s Executive Council Member at the GECF.
