Cairo/London: Global energy major bp has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian government to expand natural gas exploration in the West Nile Delta, part of the Mediterranean Sea. The agreement includes the drilling of five new offshore wells beginning in 2026, in water depths ranging from 300 to 1,500 meters.
The MoU, signed at bp’s headquarters in London, was attended by a high-level Egyptian delegation led by H.E. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, further strengthening bp’s decades-long partnership with Egypt.
Key Highlights
- Drilling Start Date: 2026
- Location: Mediterranean Sea, West Nile Delta
- Water Depths: 300 to 1,500 meters
- Wells Planned: 5
- Integration: New wells will be connected to existing production infrastructure
- Objective: Accelerate natural gas production for domestic supply
- Boosting Egypt’s Domestic Energy Supply
The exploration program is aimed at rapidly increasing Egypt’s national gas output, with a clear focus on connecting new resources to existing production facilities in the West Nile Delta. This will ensure faster time-to-market for natural gas, helping to meet local energy demands efficiently.
Leadership Commentary
Nader Zaki, bp’s Regional President for the Middle East and North Africa, said:
“This MoU represents a strategic milestone in bp’s long-standing partnership with Egypt. It reinforces our shared commitment to expanding gas resources in the West Nile Delta, a key region for both local energy security and our global growth strategy.”
Part of bp’s Global Energy Strategy
This initiative is aligned with bp’s global production goal of 2.3–2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030, with flexibility to expand beyond 2035. The MoU follows ten successful exploration discoveries in the first half of 2025—two of which were in the West Nile Delta, reaffirming the region’s strategic importance.
bp has operated in Egypt for over 60 years, playing a pivotal role in the development of the country’s energy infrastructure and capacity.
About BP
BP, formally British Petroleum, is a major, UK-based global energy company founded in 1909, operating in over 70 countries and pursuing a dual strategy of continuing oil and gas operations while investing in renewables like solar, wind, and EV charging. The company, with around 70,000 employees, aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, though it has recently shifted focus back to increased investment in oil and gas production due to shareholder pressure and differing views on the pace of the clean energy transition.
