Egypt poised to award new exploration rights to Chevron: Report
The rights will be for the West Star area close to US oil and gas major ExxonMobil's deepwater block, Asharq Business reported, citing an unnamed source.
The exploration site covers more than 11,000 square kilometres, the source said.
As per the terms of the agreement, Chevron will invest no less than $120 million in exploration and development, which includes drilling an exploratory well within the first three years of the award, following the completion of seismic surveys, the report said.
Last month Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced three new oil and gas discoveries in the Western Desert. They are estimated to produce 2,750 barrels of oil and condensates and 20 million cubic feet of gas per day.
(Writing by P Deol; Editing by Anoop Menon)
(anoop.menon@lseg.com)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Zawya
17 hours ago
- Zawya
ExxonMobil Partners with African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 as Diamond Sponsor – Showcasing Major Investments, Youth Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Africa Initiatives, and Highlighting Women in Energy
As a Diamond Sponsor at AEW, ExxonMobil reaffirms its long-standing commitment to Africa's energy future through ambitious new investments, frontier exploration and impactful educational programs. The company will take a central role in shaping dialogue on the continent's upstream outlook, LNG development and the transition to more inclusive energy systems. As the world's largest publicly listed, private integrated energy company, ExxonMobil continues to be a leader in the frontier exploration space and deepen its footprint in Africa through a series of forward-looking, high-impact initiatives. In Nigeria, the company looks to make significant investment in the deepwater as part of a broader strategy to help increase national output. This comes on the heels of sustained production efforts at the Erha and Owowo fields, underlining the company's strategic focus on optimizing existing deepwater assets. Further south, ExxonMobil is maintaining production from the prolific Kizomba deepwater development in Angola's Block 15, where it recently signed a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) extension with the Angolan National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), extending operations until 2037. The company also renewed its PSC for Block 17, in partnership with TotalEnergies to ensure continued production from key offshore Block 17 fields. In East Africa, ExxonMobil is making headway with the long-anticipated Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique's Area 4. The project – expected to reach a final investment decision in 2026 – aims to bring an additional 18 million tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG to market, building on Mozambique's emergence as a key global gas supplier. Beyond upstream operations, ExxonMobil is also investing in long-term capacity-building through the ExxonMobil Foundation's STEM Africa program. Launched in 2024, the program partners with Junior Achievement Africa to deliver immersive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to students in Nigeria, Namibia, Angola and Mozambique. In its first year alone, the program reached over 3,000 students – 96% of whom expressed interest in pursuing STEM careers. In recognition of its impact, STEM Africa was awarded the Local Impact Award at the Big Five Board Awards in London earlier this month. 'ExxonMobil's role as a Diamond Sponsor at AEW 2025 is a testament to their bold, future-focused investments – from revitalizing offshore oilfields in Nigeria and Angola to advancing LNG capacity in Mozambique and exploring new frontiers in Africa's Atlantic Coast,' states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. 'Their STEM Africa initiative demonstrates an equally strong commitment to building local talent and empowering young Africans to lead tomorrow's energy industry. This is the kind of strategic partnership Africa needs.' AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies will provide a premier platform for ExxonMobil to engage with African governments, investors, and stakeholders as the continent accelerates toward energy security and industrial growth. With a broad and growing portfolio, ExxonMobil continues to lead Africa into its next era of energy development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber. About African Energy Week: AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event.


Campaign ME
a day ago
- Campaign ME
IMI group picks Hadley Gamble as Chief International Anchor
IMI, the privately owned global media group headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has appointed Hadley Gamble to the newly created role of Chief International Anchor. In this strategic position, Gamble will lead the development of high-profile interviews and original features across IMI's network of premier media brands, including The National, Sky News Arabia, CNN Business Arabic, and Al-Ain News. A seasoned journalist and anchor, Gamble brings extensive expertise in political and economic reporting, having interviewed heads of state, business leaders and cultural figures over a notable career spanning two decades. Some of her interviews are with high-profile leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, among many others. Based in London, Gamble will represent IMI internationally and lead a new slate of cross-platform content. Commenting on her appointment, Hadley Gamble, Chief International Anchor at IMI, said, 'I am excited to be joining a media group with global reach and a clear editorial vision across its media outlets. Gamble added, I look forward to working closely alongside The National, Sky News Arabia, CNN Business Arabic, and Al-Ain News to deliver distinctive journalism that informs and engages audiences around the world.' Gamble's appointment aligns with IMI's broader strategy to expand its international content footprint and continue to grow its global audience base. With operations in 15 countries and a team of more than 400 journalists across the UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United States, IMI intends to continue investing in original content, world-class talent and impactful journalism.


The National
a day ago
- The National
How natural gas can energise diplomacy and mutual progress
Recently, Egypt and Turkey signed a significant natural gas and liquefied natural gas agreement to deploy a Turkish floating storage and regasification unit on Egyptian shores for the first time. The deal marks an important step in ensuring the security of Egypt's natural gas supplies and offers clear evidence of its essential role in supporting industries, business and homes around the world. Yet, while the economic benefits of gas and LNG expansion are incontestable, this landmark collaboration should be seen as a testament to the resource's larger potential as a strategic instrument – one which enables cross-border co-operation and helps build bridges towards shared global progress. For nearly 10 years now, natural gas has become increasingly indispensable to the stability and growth of countless economic systems, including in North Africa, Europe and Asia. Its unique combination of reliability, affordability and comparatively low carbon emissions have made it an ideal source of power for both developing and developed countries seeking to balance economic development with environmental responsibility. Today, natural gas and LNG are used to fuel vital sectors such as manufacturing, transportation and emerging technologies, and with demand forecasted to rise by 60 per cent by 2040, there is little doubt that they will continue to be a key part of our energy future. Here in Egypt, leveraging the economic value of natural gas has long been a top priority. During my time as minister of petroleum and mineral resources, the country expanded investments in liquefaction plants, extraction and distribution infrastructure. The results speak for themselves: gas and LNG export revenues reached $8 billion in 2022, up from $0.6 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, further investments in pipeline networks and terminal infrastructure have also unlocked domestic value far beyond the resource itself. In fact, natural gas now generates most of Egypt's electricity, supplies affordable energy to millions of homes and powers a new generation of local enterprises. This reliable foundation has allowed Egypt to sustain growth, create jobs and even set ambitious climate targets. The future of energy will be shaped by those who recognise that shared prosperity is best achieved through collaboration However, as this most recent agreement with Turkey demonstrates, the power of natural gas extends far beyond its use as fuel for industries and homes, as it can often act as a vital platform for building international partnerships and unlocking new opportunities for mutual progress. At the very same meeting where the most recent gas deal was signed, senior government officials from Egypt and Turkey also agreed to wider collaborations to enhance the exchange of technical expertise and specialised knowledge to launch joint projects in strategic fields, including geothermal energy, hydrogen and vital minerals. Such an outcome is not unique, as natural gas deals have often helped foster trust, deepen economic ties and create avenues for dialogue between nations. This was certainly the case just a few short years ago, when Israel, Egypt and the US came to a historic agreement to boost the EU's supply of natural gas. A memorandum of understanding between the three players not only established a strong and mutually beneficial supply chain – where Israeli gas is liquefied in Egyptian plants before being sent by tanker to Europe – it also provided a new platform upon which our nation could revive strained relations with Israel and demonstrate strategic value to the EU. These collaborations yield tangible benefits. Egypt's strategic influence as a regional energy connector is fundamentally reinforced by partnerships with Cyprus, Israel and European partners, alongside active participation in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum, EGYPES and the world-renowned Gastech. These multilateral platforms enhance Egypt's energy capabilities, attract foreign investment and accelerate technology exchange. For partner countries, reliable access to flexible energy supplies remains essential, and Egypt's efforts to modernise and expand key infrastructure – coupled with supportive policies and a wealth of untapped resources – offer a secure and ascending market in which to do business. But maintaining this ecosystem of co-operation takes work, especially when geopolitical developments and economic circumstances put pressure on all. For that reason, gatherings like Gastech 2025 – which will be hosted in Milan this year – are becoming increasingly critical to the health of the international ecosystem, and not just the growth and development of the energy industry. Convening ministers, industry leaders and experts from around the world, the event will offer a unique forum for the international community to align on the key challenges and opportunities that are shaping the global energy landscape. As it champions the role of natural gas in advancing shared energy goals, including security and sustainability of supply, Gastech's line-up of top decisionmakers underscores the resource's profound influence on the political, diplomatic and economic priorities of nearly every country. The convergence of international partnerships, including the recent Egypt-Turkey agreement, and the convening power of global forums like Gastech illustrate how natural gas has evolved into a catalyst for collective progress. Its value now extends well beyond reliable supply and economic gain, serving as a foundation for trust, knowledge-sharing and cross-border innovation. As countries navigate the challenges of energy security and sustainability, natural gas continues to offer a unique platform for building resilient alliances and advancing mutual interests. The future of energy will be shaped by those who recognise that shared prosperity is best achieved through collaboration – leveraging the strengths of natural gas to connect economies, encourage dialogue and support the transition to a more secure and low-carbon world.