Egypt announces new natural gas discovery in Nile Delta

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Nile Delta, marking a significant step towards strengthening domestic energy production, Al Ahram reported on May 3. 

The finding, located in the Nidoco concession area, is expected to produce around 50mn cubic feet of gas per day. It follows the successful drilling of the exploratory well Nidoco N-2, operated by Italian energy major Eni (BIT:ENI) in partnership with BP (LSE:BP). It comes at a time when Egypt’s daily gas consumption is estimated at 6-7bn cubic feet, placing continued pressure on domestic supply.

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi said that the discovery, alongside increased output from existing fields, supports the sector’s progress in settling outstanding dues to foreign partners. He added that full repayment is targeted by the end of June.

Regular payments have encouraged international partners to intensify exploration and drilling activities, while also supporting efforts to enhance production from mature fields by extending concession agreements. The strategy has helped attract new investment into ageing production zones.

The minister described the discovery as a model for maximising the value of Egypt’s existing energy infrastructure and strengthening long-term sustainability.

Before the Nile Delta discovery, the most significant recent development was Eni's announcement in late April 2026 regarding the Denise W-1 well, which uncovered an estimated 2 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas. The field provides a much-needed support to Egypt’s Mediterranean energy reserves.