GPC announces new oil discovery in Egypt's Western Desert - Society
The General Petroleum Company (GPC) has announced a new oil discovery—GPR-1X—in the Abu Sennan fields of Egypt's Western Desert, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said Sunday.
Initial tests show the well produces up to 1,400 barrels of crude oil and around 1 million cubic feet of gas per day from the Behaira layer.
The discovery adds an estimated two million barrels of recoverable reserves.
GPC Chairman Mohamed Abdel Meguid said the well is undergoing production testing and has shown promising hydrocarbon indicators.
The discovery is the second in Abu Sennan in three months and aligns with the ministry's push to raise domestic output and boost production from mature fields.
GPC credited artificial intelligence tools for aiding the find, highlighting the remaining potential in the Western Desert.
Energy strain prompts urgent measures
The announcement comes amid growing pressure on Egypt's energy sector, as regional tensions and falling gas supplies strain electricity production.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Saturday that recent Israeli strikes on Iran have disrupted natural gas flows.
This has prompted Egypt to fast-track the deployment of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification vessels by early July.
Together with an existing unit, they will provide 2.25 billion cubic feet of gas daily.
Madbouly said the government is working to prevent summer power cuts, doubling fuel oil reserves to secure generation capacity.
Egypt's domestic gas production has dropped to 4.1 billion cubic feet per day, while demand now exceeds 6 billion.
The electricity sector alone consumes nearly 60 percent of that supply.
At the same time, Israeli gas exports to Egypt have fallen by one billion cubic feet per day, leaving just 800 million cubic feet flowing during the summer.
According to Reuters, Egypt may need to spend up to $3 billion on LNG shipments to maintain current power generation levels.
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