EGYPT · ENERGY
Key Facts
- —The country Egypt is North Africa’s most populous country and a gas producer whose output has fallen for nine months in a row.
- —What happened Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet of gas a day by the end of 2030, Prime Minister Madbouly said, Youm7 reported on Saturday 24 October 2026.
- —The oil goal The same programme aims to lift crude oil and condensates to 700,000 barrels a day by the end of 2030.
- —Output in August Egypt produced 3.63 billion cubic feet of gas a day in August 2026, down 10.6% from 4.06 billion a year earlier.
- —Near-term gain The petroleum minister targets 330 million extra cubic feet a day before the end of 2026, from the Zohr, West Mina and Meleiha fields.
- —Partners Eni, bp, Shell and Mubadala Energy are among the foreign companies behind the main fields.
- —Still open No cost, field list or year-by-year path was given for the climb from 3.63 to 6 billion cubic feet a day.
Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet of gas a day by 2030 under a national programme announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Output was 3.63 billion cubic feet a day in August 2026, so the target means about 65% more gas.
For US readers, the goal shapes how much gas Egypt must buy abroad and what room foreign energy companies get at home. Madbouly spoke at the closing session of the Egypt Forum 2026, Youm7 and Egypt Telegraph reported.
What Madbouly Announced at the Egypt Forum
Madbouly, Egypt’s prime minister and head of the cabinet, listed targets for the coming years at the closing session. They cover a greener environment, more renewable power, social protection and more oil and gas produced at home.
The oil and gas programme runs to the end of 2030, and Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day. It also targets 700,000 barrels a day of crude oil and condensates, a light liquid that comes out of gas fields.
Madbouly also set a target of nearly 30 gigawatts of installed wind, solar and other renewable power by the end of 2028. Such plants burn no gas, which leaves more supply for homes and factories.
Where Egypt’s Gas Output Stands in 2026
Egypt produced 3.63 billion cubic feet of gas a day in August 2026, the Arabic energy outlet Attaqa reported on 21 October. That was 10.6% below the 4.06 billion a year earlier, based on figures from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative, a global energy statistics group.
Output fell year on year for the ninth month in a row in July, Attaqa said in September. From January to July, Egypt produced 22.7 billion cubic metres of gas against 24.7 billion in 2025.
A rate of 6 billion cubic feet a day equals about 62 billion cubic metres a year. Enerdata puts the 2021 peak at 71 billion cubic metres and 2024 output at 45 billion.
The Fields and Partners Behind the Plan
Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi set a nearer goal in September, adding 330 million cubic feet a day before the end of 2026. Of that, 250 million would come from the Zohr and West Mina fields at sea and 80 million from Meleiha in the Western Desert.
Zohr, the Mediterranean’s largest gas field, is owned by Eni (50%), Rosneft (30%), bp (10%) and Mubadala Energy (10%). West Mina is being developed by Shell and the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, with first gas expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Eni, the Italian energy group, began start-up of its Meleiha Phase 2 plant on Tuesday 20 October. The plant is built for up to 100 million cubic feet a day, as Rio Times reported on the new Egypt gas hub.
Why Egypt Wants More Gas at Home
Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet partly because its own output has slid while demand stays high. Enerdata, an energy data firm, says production fell from a 2021 peak of 71 billion cubic metres to 45 billion in 2024.
Madbouly said in March that the Middle East conflict had nearly tripled the monthly gas import bill, from US$560 million to US$1.65 billion, Enerdata reported. The ministry says the answer is more output at home, from existing fields and new finds.
Egypt has also said it paid its debts to foreign energy partners, a step meant to restore investor trust. Rio Times reported that the finance minister put the sum paid at more than US$6.1 billion.
Egypt has also opened a 2026 bidding round for 14 exploration blocks. Eight lie in the Mediterranean, Nile Delta and North Sinai, and 6 in the Gulf of Suez, Sinai and the Western Desert.
What It Means for US Readers
Every cubic foot Egypt produces is one it does not buy abroad, which eases demand on the regional gas market that US traders watch. If Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet and falls short, it stays a buyer.
Western companies such as Eni and bp hold the key fields. The 2026 bidding round gives foreign explorers, American ones included, a chance to bid for new blocks.
The bidding contracts use production sharing, under which the state and the company divide the output. Investors will judge the goal by delivery, since output has fallen for nine months in a row.
What Is Not Known
The reports give no cost for the plan by which Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet, and no year-by-year path from 3.63 billion. They also name no fields or wells beyond the near-term projects already announced.
It is not stated which partners will invest, or whether the prices paid to producers will rise to draw them in. The oil target of 700,000 barrels a day also comes without a stated starting point.
More: Egypt news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Egypt target on gas by 2030?
Egypt targets 6 billion cubic feet of gas a day by the end of 2030, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced. The programme also aims to lift crude oil and condensates to 700,000 barrels a day.
How much gas does Egypt produce in 2026?
Egypt produced an average of 3.63 billion cubic feet a day in August 2026, according to Attaqa, far below its 6 billion target. That is 10.6% less than the 4.06 billion produced in August 2025.
Which companies produce Egypt’s gas?
Eni, bp, Shell and Mubadala Energy are among the foreign companies in the main Mediterranean fields, working with the state. In the Western Desert, Eni has just started up the second phase of its Meleiha gas plant.
Will Egypt stop importing gas under the plan?
Madbouly said the programme will help meet the needs of the local market, but gave no date for ending imports. Whether imports stop depends on demand, which the reports do not state.
What are condensates?
Condensates are a light liquid that comes out of the ground with natural gas. Egypt counts them with crude oil in its 700,000 barrels a day target.
Sources: Youm7, Madbouly national programme to raise gas output to 6 billion cubic feet, 24 October 2026; Egypt Telegraph, Madbouly announces Egypt Forum 2026 outcomes, plan to raise gas output to 6 billion cubic feet, 24 October 2026; Attaqa, Egypt gas output steady at 3.6 billion cubic feet a day (Energy Research Unit, JODI data), 21 October 2026; Attaqa, Egypt gas output falls for the ninth month, 22 September 2026; Al Mal, Egypt targets 330 million cubic feet of gas before end 2026, 16 September 2026; Egypt Oil & Gas, Egypt targets 330 mmcf/d increase, 17 September 2026; Enerdata, Mina West field production in late 2026, May 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief