Egypt’s gas output rose to 5.22bn cfd in May, the highest level since October 2013, with both the BP-led 1.2bn cfd West Nile Delta (WND) project and Italian firm Eni’s 1bn cfd Nooros field ramping up. Cairo says it will reach gas self-sufficiency after the Italians get their August 2015, 24 tcf Zohr discovery online, which according to local reports will happen in November this year, a month ahead of schedule.

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo on 2 July oil minister Tarek El Molla told reporters that “Egypt will be self-sufficient in natural gas by 2018.” Self-sufficiency may happen next year but whether it can be sustained is doubtful. The end of this decade may see a more long-lasting self-reliance after Zohr ramps up to 2.7bn cfd, WND hits its “almost 1.5bn cfd” capacity, and 300mn cfd from BP’s Atoll field is added. (CONTINUED - 866 WORDS)