Egypt denies delay in gas production from Zohr field

The reports, attributed to Asharq Bloomberg and subsequently shared by some media outlets, claimed that the Italian company Eni would postpone new gas production until May 2025 instead of January due to unstable winter weather conditions at sea.

According to Asharq Bloomberg, the repeated delays in drilling operations were due to the refusal of Eni's request to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Damietta LNG plant.

Asharq Bloomberg reported, citing an Egyptian official, that the refusal was attributed to the local market's need for the entirety of the production.

In a statement, the Egyptian petroleum ministry firmly denied these claims, emphasising that work with Eni is progressing as per the previously approved schedule.

The ministry further highlighted Eni's recent statements to Al-Akhbar newspaper on 30 December 2024, affirming that the drilling ship is set to arrive in Egypt to commence operations in January, using advanced technologies to enhance production and adhere to the approved production plans.

The ministry called on all media outlets to ensure accuracy and rely on official sources when publishing information about Egypt's petroleum and mineral resources sector.

Additionally, the ministry asserted its legal right to act against entities that spread false news that could be harmful to the country's economic interests.

Eni discovered the Zohr gas field in 2015, a breakthrough that enabled Egypt to reach gas self-sufficiency by 2018.

In 2023, Eni committed to investing $7.7 billion in Egypt over the next four years to enhance its exploration and production activities in the country.