Egypt's Petroleum Minister Pushes for Accelerated Development of Harmattan Offshore Gas Field

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi called on Sunday, August 15, 2026, for intensified efforts to connect the Harmattan offshore gas field to production facilities. The initiative aims to bring the field online ahead of schedule and significantly boost domestic gas supplies.

During a site visit to Pharaonic Petroleum Company in Port Said, Minister Badawi urged officials to evaluate all technical solutions and alternatives that could shorten the project's timeline, allowing Egypt to tap into the field's reserves and production potential sooner. The minister examined the company's drilling, exploration, and field development activities in the Mediterranean, placing special emphasis on the Harmattan gas field. He emphasized the necessity of employing cutting-edge technologies in drilling and exploration to enhance success rates and maximize Egypt's gas resources.

Furthermore, Badawi commended the company's robust safety systems, advocating for their ongoing enhancement to meet international standards and maintain rigorous safety protocols across all work sites. Pharaonic Petroleum Chairman Hossam Zaki reported that the company successfully met 100% of its production target for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Zaki detailed upcoming plans to increase natural gas and condensate production while optimizing existing infrastructure.

The Harmattan field development project is designed to yield approximately 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, alongside 4,400 barrels per day of petroleum condensates. Zaki noted that various technical solutions are currently under review to expedite the development schedule. The field will link to the Hapiya processing facility via a 50-kilometer gas pipeline, with ENPPI acting as the primary contractor alongside partners Petrojet and Petroleum Marine Services (PMS).

Additionally, the company reviewed exploration and production prospects in the Ras El Bar, North Damietta, and Al-Borg areas. The Tort-6 well is slated to commence production before the year's end, targeting a rate of 40 million cubic feet of gas per day. Additional exploration initiatives include drilling the West Atoll exploratory well utilizing the Valaris DS-12 rig—backed by investments totaling approximately $91 million and a target depth of 6,000 meters—as well as the Benio well located in the Ras El Bar area.