Egypt has announced new oil and gas discoveries at four exploration wells in the Western Desert, reinforcing its push to boost domestic hydrocarbon production and reduce reliance on energy imports. The discoveries were made by Khalda Petroleum Company, Tharwa Petroleum Company, and Borg El Arab Petroleum Company. Khalda Petroleum is a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and US-based Apache Corporation.
The wells are expected to deliver a combined output of nearly 4,500 barrels of crude oil per day and 2.6 million cubic feet of natural gas, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. Khalda Petroleum recorded two discoveries at the Sultan S-1X RC and Alex NW-1X wells, with combined production exceeding 1,500 barrels of oil per day and about 1.7 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Tharwa Petroleum made a discovery at the EAS Z-3 well in the East Abu Sennan concession area, with an initial production rate of 1,500 barrels per day. Testing is ongoing to assess the size of recoverable reserves.
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Expansion strategy
Borg El Arab Petroleum discovered oil and gas at the AS Z-2X well in the Abu Sennan Development Area, with test results indicating production of around 1,305 barrels of oil per day and 900,000 cubic feet of associated gas per day.
The Western Desert is one of Egypt’s most prolific hydrocarbon regions, and the newly discovered wells are being tied into existing production infrastructure, allowing for a rapid ramp-up in output. The announcement comes as Egypt seeks to reverse years of declining production and ease pressure on its balance of payments caused by rising fuel imports. After four years of decline, national oil and gas output began increasing again in September last year.
As part of a broader upstream expansion strategy, Egypt plans to drill 480 new exploratory wells by 2030, backed by investments of more than US $5.7bn. A total of 101 wells are scheduled for drilling in 2026 across the country’s main producing regions.
The discoveries send a positive signal to international investors and highlight the continued potential of the Western Desert, supported by advanced seismic technologies and data-driven exploration techniques.
Alongside major offshore developments such as Zohr and the West Nile Delta, the latest finds support Egypt’s ambition to maintain its role as a regional energy hub and a key LNG liquefaction and re-export platform for European markets.
By strengthening domestic production, Egypt aims to safeguard energy security, preserve export capacity, and consolidate its position in the increasingly competitive North African and Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape.
