Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has resumed production from a key natural gas well in the giant Zohr offshore field, restoring about 70 million cubic feet of daily output after more than a year of inactivity. The move is part of broader efforts to boost domestic gas supply and reduce reliance on imports amid declining national production.
According to a senior government official who spoke to Asharq on condition of anonymity, Italy’s Eni the operator of the Zohr field successfully restarted the “Zohr-9” well in the Mediterranean Sea after sealing a water leak that had forced its shutdown. The well’s return brings the field’s total output to around 1.3 billion cubic feet per day, up from 1.25 billion.
In a statement, Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources confirmed that drilling and repair operations on Zohr-9 were completed after identifying a productive gas-bearing layer capable of sustaining the new output. The ministry described the development as part of ongoing efforts to secure local energy needs and support the government’s strategy to reduce gas imports.
A Strategic Field with a Volatile History
Discovered in 2015 and brought online in December 2017, the Zohr field remains the largest gas discovery in the Mediterranean and currently accounts for about 35% of Egypt’s total natural gas production — roughly 4.2 billion cubic feet per day. Domestic demand, however, is estimated at around 6.2 billion cubic feet per day, leaving the country facing a widening supply gap.
Zohr’s production has fluctuated sharply in recent years. After reaching a peak of 3.2 billion cubic feet per day in 2022, output has since declined to 2.4 billion in 2023, 1.9 billion in 2024, and as low as 1.25 billion cubic feet per day by mid-2025 due to technical challenges and water infiltration in several wells.
Zohr-9 is the first well to return to service following such a closure. Eni is now working to bring another well also shut down for over a year due to seawater intrusion, back online by the end of 2025. The operation is being conducted using the Saipem 10000 semi-submersible drillship, targeting the same geological layer that recently proved productive.
Renewed Push for Gas Exploration
Facing a sustained decline in output from mature fields, Egypt has accelerated exploration activity in recent months. Companies such as Chevron are leading new drilling campaigns in the western Mediterranean, while the government has introduced a series of incentives to attract foreign investment.
These incentives include allowing international partners to export part of their new production to recover outstanding dues and increasing the price of the gas share allocated to foreign operators. Officials hope such measures will help stabilize Egypt’s gas balance and restore its position as a key exporter to regional markets.
With the Zohr-9 well now back online, authorities see a modest but symbolic step toward shoring up domestic supply and signaling renewed momentum in Egypt’s energy sector after months of production setbacks.
