Key Takeaways:
- Badr-15 discovery boosts Egypt’s Western Desert gas output.
- Discovery supports Egypt’s plan to lift national gas production.
- 2026 drilling push signals stronger exploration ahead.
Egypt has confirmed a fresh natural gas discovery in the Badr-15 zone of the Western Desert, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources detailing the find in a new report. Officials said the well, developed by Badr El-Din Petroleum Company (BAPETCO), a collaboration between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Shell, has already begun production. Early output is reported at about 16 million cubic feet of gas per day, alongside 750 barrels of condensate per day.
According to the ministry, the gas discovery in Western Desert stems from ongoing investment incentives designed to boost domestic supply while cutting dependence on foreign imports. Technical teams have started reassessing the reservoir to pin down additional drilling prospects that could enhance the field’s long-run performance.
Authorities estimate that the new gas discovery in western desert will add around 15 billion cubic feet to Egypt’s proven natural gas reserves. In parallel, Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi has outlined broader goals for the sector, noting that national gas production is targeted to reach between 6.4 and 6.6 billion cubic feet per day over the next five years, supported by renewed international investment. He added that the government is lining up plans for 2026 to drill 14 exploratory wells in the Mediterranean Sea, a campaign expected to target about 12 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Badawi also spoke about the sector’s recent difficulties, noting that domestic production has been sliding since 2021 as investment cooled. However, he said that a more favourable investment environment has helped stabilize production and return the industry to a growth path. The Western Desert continues to be highlighted as a key contributor to Egypt’s hydrocarbon landscape, with recent successes such as production from the North Deep Lotus-1 well operated by Agiba Petroleum Company in cooperation with Eni reinforcing the region’s significant untapped potential.