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After Gas Field Discovery, Egypt Still Faces Energy Challenges

(Responsible Statecraft) Elfadil Ibrahim - The discovery of Egypt's gargantuan Zohr gas field in 2015, hailed as the largest in the Mediterranean, was presented as the dawn of a new era. By 2018, when Zohr began production, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised self-sufficiency and even transformation into a regional gas exporter. Electricity generation today accounts for 60% of Egypt's total gas consumption. However, just three years after its peak, Zohr's output alarmingly declined. Experts now suggest Zohr's recoverable reserves may be far less than initially estimated. Furthermore, Egyptian energy expert Khaled Fouad noted that the political leadership's "impatience" to accelerate production led to technical problems and damage to the wells. In addition, the multi-billion dollars in arrears Egypt owes to international oil and gas companies have led to curtailed crucial investments in new exploration and the maintenance of existing fields, effectively strangling domestic production. In 2024, Israeli gas accounted for 72% of Egypt's total gas imports.
2025-06-08 00:00:00
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