Shell agrees to sell BG Cyprus Limited - SHELL

31 Jul 2026

London – Shell has reached an agreement to sell its 100%-owned subsidiary BG Cyprus Ltd. to MOL Group for up to $720 million, subject to customary adjustments and milestone-linked contingent payments.

BG Cyprus Ltd. holds a 35% non-operated interest in the Cyprus Offshore Block 12, containing the Aphrodite gas field in the eastern Mediterranean. All produced gas is expected to be sold to the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS). Shell has worked with the Government of Cyprus and the joint venture partners to progress the Aphrodite project to this point and selling to MOL Group will allow Shell to capture the value created, while the remaining project partners work towards a final investment decision.

“We believe Aphrodite remains an attractive development opportunity and will play an important role in supporting regional energy needs,” said Cederic Cremers, Shell’s Integrated Gas President. “Our decision to exit is driven by disciplined capital allocation and portfolio choices, as we focus on opportunities that strengthen our integrated LNG value chain.”

Egypt remains an important country for Shell, where we continue to have a significant presence.

The transaction is expected to complete in early 2027, subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions.

Egypt to Buy Entire Output of Cyprus’s Aphrodite Gas Field in 15-Year Agreement - EGYPT OIL & GAS

Thursday, 9th April 2026

Sherine Samir

The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) has signed a 15‑year agreement to buy the entire output of the Cypriot Aphrodite gas field, with an option to extend the deal for an additional five years, Bloomberg reported, adding that the field would start production in about six years

EGAS signed the preliminary deal with the companies that operate the Aphrodite project and Cyprus’ state-run oil and gas firm, The Aphrodite partners, and Egypt also agreed on a framework to develop a gas transmission system off the Mediterranean coast, noted the news agency.

Cairo and the Aphrodite partners will set up a company under the name Aphrodite Midstream Co. in Egypt to implement the gas transmission system, noted Bloomberg, citing a statement by Newmed company, which owns a 30% stake in the Aphrodite license, while Chevron Corp. and Shell Plc hold 35% each.

Aphrodite gasfield has certainly resurfaced - CYPRUS MAIL

George Papanastasiou, Cyprus' Energy Minister

June 12, 2023
Dr Charles Ellinas

Despite challenges, the latest plans for the development of Aphrodite are more serious and realistic

Aphrodite is back in the limelight. On May 31 NewMed submitted an updated development plan to Cyprus’ government, on behalf of the field joint venture (JV) that includes Chevron as the operator and partner Shell. This is based on transporting the gas to Shell’s West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) existing processing and production facilities offshore Egypt, from where it will be transported to the mainland eventually for domestic consumption or for export as LNG. First gas is expected by 2028.

This goes against George Papanastasiou’s, the energy minister, wishes for the Aphrodite partners to prioritise supply of gas to the island. In April he said that he didn’t think that gas from the Aphrodite gasfield should end up in Egypt’s liquefaction terminals.

“Our approach around the use of natural gas as a transition fuel is being reviewed and we are including the natural gas found in the East Med, and more specifically Cyprus’ EEZ, in the mix for use in the domestic market,” he said.

Israel officially recognizes Energean’s Katlan reservoir as natural gas discovery - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

1 June 2023, 3:24 pm
Sharon Wrobel

Israel’s Energy Ministry officially classified an offshore natural gas reserve explored by British-Greek oil and gas company Energean as a discovery, paving the way for its development.

National infrastructure, Energy, and Water Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday granted Energean the recognition of the oil commissioner Chen Bar Yosef for the Katlan deposit, also known as Olympus, as a natural gas discovery. It marks the first natural gas discovery recognized by Israel since 2015, the Energy Ministry said.

It comes a year after news of the discovery was announced.

Katlan, which holds an estimated 68 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, (TEKMOR Note: 2.4tcf) is located between the Energean-owned Karish and Tanin natural gas fields off Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

Egypt achieves 53 oil & gas discoveries in 2022 - ZAWYA

December 29, 2022

Egypt has witnessed a spike in its energy reserves in 2022, with 53 new oil and gas discoveries, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ 2022 Achievements Report.

The new discoveries include 42 oil wells and 11 gas wells in the Western Desert, the Suez Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, and Nile Delta.

The latest gas discovery in the Nargis block occurred in December. Reuters estimated the discovery to have 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla, stated earlier this month that the volume of Nargis gas discovery was still under assessment.

The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) launched an international bid round for oil exploration and exploitation for 12 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea and Nile Delta.

On December 22nd, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El-Molla, stated that Egypt was set to invest a total of $2.1 billion in oil and natural gas exploration plans until 2025.

Chevron, partners okay expansion of gas production from Israel’s Tamar field - THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

8 December 2022, 7:51 pm
Sharon Wrobel

Energy firms to invest $673 million in boosting gas production to meet growing demand in Israel and neighboring countries

US energy giant Chevron and its partners in the Tamar natural gas reservoir off Israel’s Mediterranean coast announced Thursday that they have okayed a final investment decision (FID) needed to proceed with the first phase of expanding natural gas production to meet growing domestic demand and boost exports to Egypt.

As part of the FID, the partners in the Tamas natural gas rig, located some 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of Haifa, are expected to invest some $673 million in a project expanding gas production from the offshore field.

Chevron provided details of a two-stage plan aimed at expanding production to about 1.6 billion cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas from the Tamar field to meet Israel’s energy needs and export gas to Egypt and neighboring countries.

Egypt Gas’ H1 net profit soars 333.2% YoY - ZAWYA

August 17, 2022
Staff Writer, Arab Finance

• Net profit after tax reached over $5mln in H1 2022

Egypt Gas (EGAS) reported a 333.2% year-on-year (YoY) surge in net profit after tax for the first half (H1) of 2022, according to the financial income statement filed to the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) on August 16th.

Net profit after tax reached EGP 103.52 million in H1 2022, compared to a profit of EGP 23.89 million in H1 2021.

Moreover, the company generated operating revenues of EGP 3.06 billion in the first six months of 2022, up from EGP 2.25 billion in the year-ago period.

Egypt Gas is an Egypt-based shareholding company engaged in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of natural gas distribution networks and pressure reduction stations for domestic, commercial, and industrial applications.

Egypt and Chevron agree to explore new East Med gas deal - REUTERS

June 21, 2022, 10:51 AM GMT+3

CAIRO/HOUSTON, June 20 (Reuters) - Egypt's state-owned gas company and U.S.-based Chevron Corp (CVX.N)on Monday signed a preliminary agreement to explore sending natural gas from offshore Mediterranean fields to Egypt for processing and export.

The memorandum of understanding signed by Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and Chevron will consider transport, import, liquefication and export of natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean, the ministry said.

Chevron two years ago acquired an about 40% stake in a massive natural gas field in the Mediteranean Sea off the coast of Israel. It also plans to drill its first exploration well in a concession area in the eastern Mediterranean in September, Egypt's petroleum ministry said in a statement.

Egypt Snubs LNG, Plans To Send Gas to Lebanon Via the Arab Gas Pipeline - JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

September 23, 2021

Pat Davis Szymczak

Egypt says it is stopping gas supplies to the Egypt Liquefied Natural Gas (ELNG) export terminal at Idku near Alexandria immediately and that it will supply gas to the Damietta LNG plant only until year end as it prepares to redirect surplus gas exports to Lebanon via the Arab Gas Pipeline.

Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced in early September it would deliver Egyptian gas to Lebanon after oil ministers of nations responsible for the Arab Gas Pipeline (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon) met in Amman to agree on a regional response to Lebanon’s ongoing fuel and electricity crisis, local media reported.

The English language news site Egypttoday.com quoted Egyptian Minister Tarek El Molla as saying, “Egypt is working to speed up coordination for delivering Egyptian natural gas to Lebanon through Jordan and Syria.”

Lebanon is in a state of economic collapse that the World Bank has called one of the worst on record, and, because it lacks foreign currency to pay for energy imports, the country was forced to switch off its two main power plants in July for lack of fuel, plunging the country into a near total blackout.

Egypt announces settling of claims over restarted Damietta LNG plant - REUTERS

WED MAR 10, 2021 / 2:48 AM EST

(Reuters) - Egypt's petroleum ministry announced on Wednesday a series of agreements settling all claims between Egypt, Egyptian National Gas Holding Company (EGAS), Union Fenosa Gas and the Spanish Egyptian Gas Company (SEGAS), ensuring resumption of production at the Damietta LNG liquefaction plant.

Last month, Egypt's petroleum minister had announced the restarting of the plant, which is 50% owned by Eni, a key step in the country's plans to promote itself as an energy hub in the eastern Mediterranean.

Egypt to Reopen LNG Plant In Push to Be Major European Supplier - BLOOMBERG

January 27, 2021, 11:34 AM GMT+2
Salma El Wardany

• LNG capacity will be 12.5 million tons a year, says minister
• Nation looking to become a major supplier of LNG to Europe

Egypt is set to boost exports of liquefied natural gas by restarting one of its two production plants.

The Damietta facility, which has been idled for eight years, will reopen by the end of February, Oil Minister Tarek El-Molla said in an interview Wednesday with Dubai-based consultancy Gulf Intelligence. It will process about 4.5 million tons of LNG a year and raise the nation’s capacity to 12.5 million tons, he said.

The return of Damietta and the country’s other plant -- Idku, whose exports have picked up after dropping last year amid the coronavirus pandemic -- will mark a revival of Egypt’s LNG push.

While the Arab nation is a relative minnow -- accounting for about 1% of global LNG supplies in 2019 -- it will become one of the top 10 exporters if it reaches full capacity, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

EGAS Exports 33.9 bcf of Natural Gas to Jordan in FY 2019/20 - EGYPT OIL & GAS

Monday, 28th December 2020

The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) exported about 33.9 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas to Jordan through the Arab Gas pipeline in the fiscal year (FY) 2019/20.

The company also highlighted that the exported liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Idku gas liquefaction plant reached about 120 billion cubic feet of gas equivalent (bcfe) through 33 LNG shipments.

The company also stated that the national plan of natural gas households’ delivery has been amended from 1 million housing units to 1.1 million units. It added that its targeted plan in FY 2020/21 is to deliver natural gas to 100 industrial and 1000 commercial facilities.

Eni: New gas discovery in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt - ENI

01 JULY 2020 11:00 AM CEST

Eni have successfully drilled the first exploration well in the North El Hammad license, in the conventional Egyptian waters of the Nile Delta, on the prospect called Bashrush. The discovery further extends to the west the gas potential of the Abu Madi formation reservoirs discovered and produced from the so-called "Great Nooros Area".

San Donato Milanese (Milan), 1 July 2020 - Eni (as the Operator of the Block), BP and Total (as Contractor members) have successfully drilled the first exploration well in the North El Hammad license, in the conventional Egyptian waters of the Nile Delta, on the prospect called Bashrush.

The new discovery is located in 22 meters of water depth, 11 km from the coast and 12 km North-West from the Nooros field and about 1 km west of the Baltim South West field, both already in production.

2020Egypt plans to sign oil and gas exploration and production contracts in 2021 - ZAWYA

17 JUNE, 2020
Marwa Abo Almajd

Egypt has signed 12 oil and gas exploration and production agreements involving local and international companies, an official of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said.

Spokesperson Hamdy Abd Alaziz told Zawya Projects last week that the agreements have received cabinet approval and the contracts are expected to be signed in 2021 after parliamentary approvals.

He said agreements were signed with companies from the US, UK, France, Kuwait and the UAE to start exploration and production activities in the Western Desert, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

Abd Alaziz said the local counterparties to the agreements included the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), which has projects in Narges, North Al Dabaa; North Sidi Barani; North Al-Salloum; North Al-Amiriya; North of Ras Kanais; North Marina and North of Cleopatra in the Mediterranean; Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope), which has projects in Blocks 1, 3, and 4 on the Red Sea, and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), which has a project in East Abu Sennan in the Western Desert.

In December 2019, Reuters reported that Egypt had awarded oil and gas exploration concessions in its first ever Red Sea licensing round.

Breakdown in Naturgy, Eni and EGPC Damietta dispute resolution - ENTERPRISE

Sunday, 26 April 2020

DISPUTE WATCH- The resolution of a long-simmering dispute over a shuttered Damietta LNG plant has fallen apart despite an agreement reached last month, according to a cabinet statement. Parties to the dispute include Spanish gas firm Naturgy Energy Group, Italy’s Eni, and the Egyptian government.

Why does this matter? First, the dispute was closely followed by investors in Egypt’s energy sector, though that concern was largely swept away as the Sisi administration reached a settlement with all parties. More importantly, the Damietta plant is a key part of Egypt’s strategy to grow its natural gas exports as it emerges as the Eastern Mediterranean’s premier energy hub. The plant has been closed since 2012, when supply of gas was shut off amid disruptions in the wake of the political events of the previous year. Its reopening would have expanded Egypt’s ability to export natural gas to European markets.

Record Egyptian finds but gas glut beckons - CYPRUS MAIL

March 1, 2020

Charles Ellinas

Egypt had another successful year in 2019 and this was showcased at the country’s annual petroleum show, EGYPS-2020, held mid-February in Cairo.

But 2020 is turning out to be a pivotal, but challenging, year for the oil and natural gas industries worldwide and Egypt and the East Med are not immune to it.

Opening the conference, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla highlighted the successes of 2019, with the oil and gas sector contributing 25 per cent to Egypt’s gross domestic product.

A total of 29 international agreements were signed during EGYPS-2020, reflecting the great potential and promising opportunities of the Egyptian petroleum sector.

Eni to restart Egypt’s Damietta LNG plant operations - OIL REVIEW MIDDLE EAST

Sunday, 01 March 2020 04:30

Supermajor Eni has announced that Egypt’s Damietta LNG plant is expected to resume operations by June following a series of agreements with its partners in Egypt

The liquefaction plant’s owner is the company SEGAS, which is 40 per cent owned by Eni through Union Fenosa Gas (50 per cent Eni and 50 per cent Naturgy). The plant has a capacity of 7.56 bcm per year, but has been idle since November 2012.

The agreements provide for the amicable resolution of the pending disputes of Union Fenosa Gas and SEGAS with EGAS and ARE, and the subsequent corporate restructuring of Union Fenosa Gas, whose assets will be divided between the shareholders Eni and Naturgy.

Egypt reaches agreement with Eni, Naturgy over Damietta LNG plant - AHRAM ONLINE / REUTERS

Thursday 27 Feb 2020

Italy’s Eni and Spain’s Naturgy have reached an agreement with Egypt to resolve a series of disputes over the Damietta gas liquefaction plant in northern Egypt, paving the way for the facility to restart by June, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral ressoruces and the companies said on Thursday.

The agreement will end Naturgy’s business interests in Egypt and dissolve a joint venture between Naturgy and Eni, while Eni and state-owned Egyptian firms will increase their holdings in the Damietta plant.

The facility, which has a capacity of 7.56 billion cubic meters per year, has been idle since the end of 2012 when a popular uprising hit gas supplies in Egypt and the government was forced to import gas to meet domestic demand.

EGAS scraps plan to increase domestic natgas production to 8 bcf this fiscal year - ENTERPRISE

Thursday, 6 February 2020

EGAS’ plan to increase domestic production of natural gas to 8 bcf/d in FY2019/2020 has been hindered by the global decline in the price of natural gas and the abundant supply for local consumption, sources from EGAS told Al Mal. 

The sources said that the inability to implement the plan is not due to technical, production or investment problems, but is linked to global and local changes. 

Global gas prices averaged USD 2.57/mmBtu last year, down from USD 3.15 over the past four years, and fell below USD 2 at the end of January.

Egypt, ExxonMobil Ink Two Agreements Worth $332 MM - EGYPT OIL & GAS

Tuesday, 28th January 2020

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, signed two new exploration and production (E&P) agreements with ExxonMobil and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), according to a press release.

The two agreements are worth $332 million, with a signature bonus of around $17 million to drill seven wells.

The signature was conducted between El Molla; EGAS Chairman, Osama El Bakly; and the East Mediterranean Exploration Manager at ExxonMobile, Don Bagley, in the presence of other petroleum leaders.