The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced the discovery of a significant new gas field in the Western Desert, a development hailed as a direct result of state incentives designed to boost foreign investment.
The find was made by Apache Corporation in collaboration with the Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) through the SKAL-1X exploration well in the South Kalabsha region. Preliminary tests indicate a production capacity of 26 million cubic feet of gas and 2,700 barrels of condensate per day.
Located near existing concessions, the new field benefits from established infrastructure, which is expected to lower operating costs and allow for a rapid transition to active production. This discovery is particularly timely as Egypt works to reduce its energy import bill and address a domestic supply gap. Current national gas production stands at approximately 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, while domestic demand has climbed to nearly 6.2 billion cubic feet.
Apache Corporation, a major player in the Egyptian energy sector since 1994, invested over $4 billion in the country last year alone. The company has ambitious plans for 2026, including the drilling of 34 exploration and development wells with an estimated investment of $150 million. These efforts aim to push Apache’s total production toward 500 million cubic feet of gas per day.
While Egypt achieved gas self-sufficiency in 2018, rising domestic consumption and the natural depletion of older resources have since turned the country back into a net importer. To bridge the current deficit, Egypt continues to rely on high-value supply agreements, including a long-term $35 billion deal with Israel. This new Western Desert discovery represents a strategic step toward reclaiming energy independence and stabilizing the national power grid.
AK/te/fss/abj/APA