Egypt’s natural gas production has decreased by nearly 35%, equivalent to 1.8 billion cubic feet per day, over the past two years due to halted development operations in gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea and other concession areas under foreign partners.

With the significant decline in natural gas production to a level between 4.8 and 5 billion cubic feet per day, the country has resumed importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet rising domestic demand, a practice it had ceased in 2018 following new gas discoveries, led by the Zohr Field.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum is working to increase gas production by drilling new wells and developing existing fields amid the natural depletion of existing gas fields and rising consumption, which has negatively impacted local gas availability and exports.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced during a press conference on August 22 that Egypt plans to restore oil and gas production to normal levels starting in 2025, in cooperation with foreign partners. This announcement coincided with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum’s launch of a new bid round for gas and crude oil exploration in 12 sectors in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta.