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Italy-headquartered oil company Eni is planning to drill two new wells at Egypt’s Zohr natural gas field, according to the North African country’s Petroleum & Mineral Resources Minister, Karim Badawi.

He said that the new wells aim to expand natural gas reserves and enhance production from the field, which plays an important role in the energy landscape of Egypt and the broader Mediterranean region. 

The two new wells are set to be drilled in the first quarter of 2025.

Badawi made the remarks during the general assembly meeting of PetroShorouk, the operator of the Zohr field.

Senior leaders from Egypt’s petroleum sector attended the meeting, as did representatives from major investment partners, including Eni, BP, Russia’s Rosneft and the UAE’s Mubadala.

Badawi said collaboration is needed to achieve the best outcomes for the field’s future. Integrating advanced technology to optimise its potential, particularly from its deep-water layers, will be important.

PetroShorouk chairman Khaled Mowafy said that more than $677m was invested in the Zohr field during the fiscal year 2023/24.