Petroleum minister discusses Chevron’s plans to expand natural gas exploration in Egypt

Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met with Kevin McLachlan, Chevron’s Vice-President of Exploration, on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2026) to discuss the latest developments in the company’s activities in Egypt and its plans to expand natural gas exploration, in light of the promising opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The meeting reviewed the positive results of drilling operations at the Nargis-2 well in the Mediterranean Sea, which confirmed the extension of the gas-bearing formations previously identified at the Nargis-1 well, in addition to the discovery of an additional gas-bearing layer.

These findings reinforce the positive indications of the discovery and support the continuation of appraisal activities to determine the size of its resources and assess its development potential.

Chevron is currently investing in six offshore oil and gas exploration areas in Egypt: Nargis, North Dabaa, Lotus, Northwest Atoll, North Simián and North Cleopatra, where it partners with Shell, the area’s operator.

The two sides also discussed the latest developments at Cyprus’s Aphrodite gas field and progress towards finalising agreements to connect its production to Egypt’s infrastructure, paving the way for a final investment decision (FID) and the start of project implementation.

The project will enable the utilisation of Egypt’s existing capabilities and facilities for receiving, processing and liquefying natural gas, while strengthening its role as a regional hub for natural gas trading.

Badawi emphasised the importance of the partnership with Chevron, stressing the Petroleum Sector’s commitment to building on the positive results achieved in exploration activities, accelerating the appraisal of discoveries and identifying opportunities for their development. These efforts will support increased domestic natural gas production and maximise the utilisation of petroleum resources, he said.

The minister also stressed the Petroleum Sector’s commitment to providing a stable, clear and transparent investment environment based on honouring its commitments to investment partners and strengthening mutual trust.

He added that efforts were under way to introduce investment incentives and mechanisms to encourage international companies to increase their investments and intensify exploration and production activities in Egypt.

For his part, McLachlan highlighted Egypt’s strategic importance within Chevron’s Eastern Mediterranean portfolio, given its promising investment opportunities and advanced natural gas infrastructure.

He expressed the company’s interest in further strengthening its partnership with Egypt’s Petroleum Sector and expanding its exploration activities in the coming period.