Egypt has confirmed new commercially viable oil and gas finds in its Western Desert, with initial output tests showing promising flows that could help stabilize the country’s hydrocarbon production, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said.
The discoveries stem from four exploration wells operated in the Western Desert by Khalda Petroleum, a joint venture between the Egyptian state and U.S. oil group Apache, alongside Tharwa Petroleum and Borg El Arab Petroleum, both domestic operators.
According to ministry data, the wells produced around 4,500 barrels of oil per day and 2.6 million cubic feet of natural gas per day during preliminary testing. Officials described the results as encouraging and said the findings demonstrate the continued potential of the targeted geological structures.
“The initial production rates confirm that our onshore exploration strategy is yielding positive results,” a ministry statement said. “These discoveries reinforce Egypt’s commitment to optimizing mature fields and stabilizing hydrocarbon output in the Western Desert region.”
The Western Desert has long been a focal point of Egypt’s onshore oil and gas operations. Recent successes, including the Badr-15 discovery in November 2025, have highlighted the region’s hydrocarbon potential and contributed to efforts to offset declining production in older fields.
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Egypt has pursued a low-risk exploration strategy, targeting areas near existing pipelines and infrastructure to allow for rapid development and connection to national networks. The approach reduces investment risk while accelerating production timelines, crucial for supporting domestic energy needs.
Analysts say these new finds come at a critical time. While Egypt remains a significant oil producer, the country has faced recent challenges in natural gas production, turning it into a net importer of gas. Expanding output from onshore fields is therefore vital to reduce reliance on imports, ensure energy security, and maintain state revenues.
Khalda Petroleum, a long-standing operator in the region, has leveraged modern drilling techniques and seismic analysis to identify productive zones efficiently. Its joint ventures with Egyptian firms enable knowledge transfer and local investment, creating employment opportunities and supporting the national oil sector.
Experts note that Western Desert discoveries are strategically important because they can be brought online relatively quickly, without the extensive infrastructure requirements of offshore fields. This allows Egypt to boost production in a cost-effective manner while continuing longer-term offshore exploration projects.
Oil and gas remain central to Egypt’s economy, accounting for a substantial portion of government revenues and export earnings. Authorities have emphasized that increasing onshore production is part of a broader energy strategy that also includes natural gas projects in the Mediterranean, renewable energy investments, and initiatives to modernize refineries.
“These new wells demonstrate the effectiveness of our targeted exploration and development programs,” said a senior ministry official. “By leveraging existing infrastructure, we can increase output quickly and maintain stability in both oil and gas supply.”
The Western Desert discoveries underscore Egypt’s ongoing role as a regional energy hub, even as it navigates challenges such as rising domestic demand, global market volatility, and the need to transition to cleaner energy sources. Officials say the immediate focus will be scaling up production from the new wells, integrating them into existing networks, and monitoring reservoir performance.
The success of Khalda Petroleum, Tharwa Petroleum, and Borg El Arab Petroleum in these projects may also encourage further foreign and domestic investment in Egypt’s onshore oil and gas sector, supporting broader economic growth and energy independence.
As Egypt prepares to bring the new discoveries into commercial production, authorities are optimistic that the Western Desert will continue to be a backbone of national hydrocarbon output for years to come.
