Work has begun at three new wells in Egypt’s Zohr gas field this financial year, the petroleum ministry announced Tuesday. The Zohr-6 well has contributed around 65 million cubic feet of gas per day, boosting Egypt’s overall production.
Italian energy giant Eni, operator of Zohr, resumed drilling in February after output was limited due to arrears to foreign companies. Production in the Mediterranean’s largest gas field fell to 1.9 billion cubic feet per day early in 2024, well below 2019’s peak.
Discovered in 2015 by Eni, Zohr began producing in late 2017 and holds an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet of gas. The field is managed by Petrobel, a joint venture between Eni and Egypt’s state-owned petroleum corporation, EGPC.
Efforts to expand drilling at Zohr reflect Egypt’s ambition to stabilise domestic energy supply and reinforce its regional energy influence. The new wells aim to revive production and counter the decline experienced in the past years, analysts say.
Eni’s return to active drilling marks a significant step in restoring the field’s output to its full potential. Egypt continues to invest in Mediterranean gas resources, highlighting the strategic role of Zohr in national energy security plans.