As part of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ strategy to boost production rates and attract foreign investments, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), led by Eng. Sayed Selim, conducted a series of high-level meetings with leading international energy companies on the sidelines of Egypt Energy Show (EGYPS) 2026.

Exploring Cooperation with ExxonMobil in the Mediterranean

Among the engagements was a meeting with ExxonMobil, during which both sides discussed prospects for cooperation in exploration and production activities. Discussions included the potential contracting of a drilling rig to operate in the “Cairo Offshore” block in the Mediterranean before the end of the current year.

The two parties reviewed the promising geological potential of the area, while ExxonMobil expressed strong interest in assessing opportunities within high-potential zones—reflecting growing confidence among international companies in Egypt’s investment climate in the oil and gas sector.

Advancing Discussions with TotalEnergies in the Western Mediterranean

EGAS also held extensive discussions with TotalEnergies to explore cooperation opportunities in the exploration of select open areas in the Western Mediterranean.

Both sides emphasized the importance of exchanging geological and geophysical data to enable accurate evaluation of these areas and to identify promising investment prospects, paving the way for potential future bidding rounds and development activities.

Collaboration with Viridien on Advanced Seismic Surveys

In a separate meeting, EGAS engaged with Viridien to discuss the implementation of a 3D seismic survey project utilizing Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) technology in the Mediterranean.

Discussions focused on expediting project execution at the earliest opportunity. It was agreed to commence operations in shallow, followed by expansion into deeper waters, subject to the availability of specialized seismic vessels. The project aims to enhance geophysical databases and improve the accuracy of technical evaluations of potential reservoirs.

Reinforcing Government Support and Investor Confidence

EGAS officials underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships with international energy companies to support exploration activities and increase production rates. They noted that such engagements represent a key step toward attracting new investments and accelerating the development of Egypt’s natural gas resources.

The meetings were attended by a number of senior petroleum sector officials, including Dr. Samir Raslan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum for Exploration; Geologist Ibrahim Abdo, Vice President for Exploration; Eng. Abdel Nasser Khafagy, Vice President for Production; and Mr. Ashraf Habib, Executive Managing Director for Economic Affairs and Internal & External Trade—reflecting strong institutional alignment in advancing Egypt’s upstream expansion plans.