Egypt to roll out largest ever Mediterranean gas drilling project as Western investors gear up

Speaking during an inspection of new offshore activity, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi said the programme marks a significant step in the country’s energy strategy. The minister visited the STENA ICEMAX drillship as operations began at the first production well in the West Meina field, located in the North East Amriya region.

Initial output from West Meina is expected by the end of 2026, with projected production of about 160 million cubic feet of gas per day alongside roughly 1,900 barrels of condensate.

Badawi said the project reflects the success of the ministry’s investment incentives, noting that the policies are designed to attract capital through “credibility and mutual benefit”. He added that the expanding drilling activity demonstrates progress towards boosting production and securing gas supplies for the domestic market.

The development comes as Egypt seeks to stabilise its energy balance amid rising local demand and fluctuating regional supply dynamics. Officials say the current year is already witnessing record drilling activity across several production zones as authorities pursue new reservoir discoveries to strengthen medium-term capacity.