Written by: Ahmed Abdel Salam
Egypt's natural gas production rate stabilized at about 3.63 billion cubic feet per day during last August, recording an annual decline of 10.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, while remaining relatively stable on a monthly basis compared to July. These data come within the framework of the Egyptian energy sector's efforts to enhance local supply levels and secure market needs for the fuel necessary for electricity generation and various industrial activities.
Production Developments and Domestic Consumption
Official data indicate that Egypt's total gas production from the beginning of the year until the end of August reached about 25.874 billion cubic meters, a decrease of 8.5 percent compared to the same period last year, as the successive monthly decline continues. Regarding domestic consumption, total consumption reached about 6.173 billion cubic meters per day during August, recording a slight increase, while the consumption of the electricity and heating sector recorded a slight decline to 3.954 billion cubic meters compared to the same period of the previous year.
Plans and Projects to Increase Supplies
The Egyptian government seeks to boost its domestic gas production through ambitious plans targeting the addition of about 330 million cubic feet per day before the end of the current year. These plans include adding 250 million cubic feet from the Zohr and West Delta Deep Marine fields in the Mediterranean Sea, and 80 million cubic feet from the Meleiha fields in the Western Desert. The gas sector has witnessed the entry of several new wells onto the production map in the Western Desert, the Gulf of Suez, and the onshore Nile Delta regions to add new quantities of gas and condensates, alongside the start of trial operations for the second phase of the Meleiha gas processing plant with a capacity of up to 100 million cubic feet per day to enhance infrastructure and connect production to the national grid.
