The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta region, with estimated production rates of around 50 million cubic feet per day, following the successful drilling of the exploratory well Nidoco N-2 within a concession area operated by Italy’s Eni in partnership with the UK’s bp.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ministry said that Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, inspected the EDC-56 drilling rig, which carried out drilling operations in the West Abu Madi area of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, approximately 3 kilometers offshore in shallow waters at a depth of about 10 meters.

The well was drilled from land using advanced directional drilling technologies, which helped reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.

The minister emphasized that this discovery, along with rising production from existing fields, reflects the petroleum sector’s success in settling outstanding dues to foreign partners, with full settlement targeted by the end of June.

This progress underscores the state’s commitment to strengthening trust with partners and creating an attractive investment environment.

He added that the regular payment of dues has encouraged partners to intensify exploration activities, increase drilling and production rates, and expand the development of mature fields by extending concession agreements, measures that have contributed to attracting new investments to these areas.

Badawi also noted that the well’s proximity to existing infrastructure, located less than 2 kilometers from the nearest production facilities, will allow for rapid connection to the national gas network within the coming weeks and enable early production, thereby improving capital efficiency.

The ministry highlighted that this discovery represents a model for maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, increasing production levels, and supporting gas supplies to the domestic market. It also reflects Eni’s continued success in exploration activities across its concession areas.

It is worth noting that the West Abu Madi development area is operated by Eni, in partnership with bp and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), through the joint venture Petrobel.