Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla this week appointed Alaa El Batal as the new Chairman of state oil firm Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). Mr Batal succeeds Abed Ezz El Regal, who is retiring having headed EGPC since March 2017. Mr Batal took up his duties on 26 January, having served as Chairman of EGPC’s southern Egypt-focused arm Ganope since May 2020. Before that Mr Batal was EGPC exploration chief. Egypt’s oil output has begun to edge higher (MEES, 28 January) after slipping to a 40-year low last year (MEES, 14 January).