Egypt adds 15 bcf to gas reserves after new Badr El-Din discovery

CAIRO - 21 June 2026: Badr El-Din Petroleum Company has announced a new natural gas discovery in Egypt’s Western Desert, expected to add around 15 billion cubic feet (bcf) to the country’s gas reserves, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

 

The ministry said the new well is scheduled to begin production by the end of the current month, with an initial output of around 15 million cubic feet per day, in addition to 500 barrels per day of condensates.

 

According to Khaled Abdelsalam, Chairman of Badr El-Din Petroleum, the company implemented 40 successful hydraulic fracturing operations during the current fiscal year, which contributed to adding more than 10,000 barrels per day of oil and over 15 million cubic feet per day of gas to production.

 

He said the operations were carried out using advanced global technologies in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, helping improve production efficiency and enhance output from existing fields.

 

During a field visit to the company’s operations in the Western Desert, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi said the ministry is working to expand the use of advanced drilling technologies, including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, to increase well productivity and boost crude oil output.

 

He added that achieving Egypt’s five-year plan to double crude oil production requires the adoption of advanced technologies and non-traditional solutions in exploration and production activities.

 

Badawi noted that recent improvements in the investment climate in the sector, including the settlement of arrears to foreign partners, regular payment schedules, and investment incentives, have helped support production expansion and attract further investment.

 

He also highlighted the role of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and its partners in developing new economic models aimed at increasing investment and production levels.

The minister stressed that boosting domestic production helps reduce reliance on imported petroleum products and liquefied natural gas, adding that every additional barrel produced locally has a positive impact on the national economy.