Egypt uncovers major gas reserves in eastern Mediterranean

Egypt and Italian energy giant Eni announced the discovery of a significant natural gas field off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, at a time when the country is struggling to secure its energy supplies amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Initial estimates indicate that Egypt’s Temsah oil and gas field in the eastern Mediterranean contains around two trillion cubic feet of natural gas—equivalent to approximately 57 billion cubic metres, France 24 reports.

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum said the field also holds “130 million barrels of condensates,” a very light form of oil, underscoring the potential economic value of the discovery. Officials described the find as part of broader efforts aimed at “supporting increased production and reducing the import bill.”

A test well is currently being prepared, the ministry added, after which further drilling is planned alongside the construction of an offshore production platform.

The discovery comes at a time when Egypt is grappling with disruptions to its natural gas supplies from Qatar and Israel due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The shortages have prompted the government to introduce energy-saving measures, including curfews for businesses and increases in fuel prices.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in late March that Egypt’s monthly energy bill had tripled, rising from $560 million (around €466 million) to $1.65 billion (approximately €1.48 billion), highlighting the financial strain caused by supply disruptions.

In a separate development last month, Egypt and Apache Corporation announced the discovery of another gas field in the desert, with a production capacity of about 735,000 cubic metres per day.

In recent years, Egypt has faced mounting challenges in balancing domestic energy demand with its ambitions to become a regional energy hub. The 2015 discovery of the Zohr offshore field—the largest in the Mediterranean, with reserves estimated at around 850 billion cubic metres—had raised hopes of achieving energy self-sufficiency and expanding exports.

However, Egypt has since shifted its focus toward processing and exporting gas, leveraging its liquefaction infrastructure to handle offshore supplies from other countries, including Cyprus, as it adapts to evolving regional energy dynamics.

By Vafa Guliyeva