Fifty years since the recovery of Sinai oil fields… Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources joins workers in celebrating the golden jubilee of Petroleum Day
On the occasion of the golden jubilee of Egyptian Petroleum Day, Engineer Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, joined workers in the petroleum sector in their celebration at the Abu Rudeis production fields in South Sinai, affiliated with Petrobel Company. The event commemorated the recovery of Sinai’s oil fields and their return to Egyptian sovereignty fifty years ago, on November 17, 1975, as one of the most prominent fruits of the glorious October Victory.
Simultaneously, leaders of the petroleum sector—including deputy ministers, heads of authorities, and holding companies—participated with workers at various sites across the country.
During the festivities, attended by ministry leaders and the General Union of Petroleum Workers headed by accountant Abbas Saber, the minister and leaders honored 196 distinguished employees across different production and work sites. Honorees included those excelling in occupational safety and health, outstanding technical experts, posthumous recognition for deceased sector employees, retirees, and distinguished female staff in production sites.
In his speech, the minister expressed his appreciation for the workers of the petroleum and mineral resources sector, praising their major role in increasing production rates and securing energy supplies for the local market. He emphasized that the workers’ sincere efforts, around the clock, help meet the needs of millions of Egyptians and consuming sectors such as electricity and industry. He added that the achievements made fifty years ago by the pioneering generation of the petroleum sector continue today through the dedicated efforts of current employees across production sites.
The minister reviewed the results of implementing the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ work strategy since July 2024 in facing challenges in the oil and gas industry. He pointed to regaining investor confidence through a package of incentive measures aimed at encouraging new investments in exploration and production activities and creating a more attractive investment climate.
He affirmed the sector’s commitment to continue working to increase oil and gas production, supported strongly by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly.
The minister explained that incentive measures and workers’ efforts succeeded in halting the decline in natural gas production and initiating a gradual upward trend since last August, with current production reaching about 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, targeting further increases in the coming period. Efforts also succeeded in halting the decline in crude oil production, entering a stabilization phase that paves the way for growth, especially with new discoveries in the Western Desert and the Gulf of Suez.
He noted that 75 new oil and gas discoveries were achieved during this period, with 383 new wells added to the production map. This contributed to adding 1.1 billion cubic feet of gas and about 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day to production capacity, saving about $6.7 billion from the import bill of petroleum products and gas. The ministry also aims to drill more than 100 new exploratory oil and gas wells during 2026.
The minister clarified that, alongside increasing local production, a system was prepared to secure gas supplies for the domestic market for the next five years. Gas supplies for all state sectors were secured during this summer after implementing a proactive plan that included preparing infrastructure for importing liquefied natural gas and bringing in four regasification ships with a capacity of 2,700 million cubic feet per day, ensuring the needs of electricity, industry, and all consumers are met.
He confirmed that petroleum refineries provided 34 million tons of petroleum products and achieved exports worth $3.2 billion, while the petrochemical industry produced 4 million tons annually, including exports worth about $2.6 billion.
Regarding the mining sector, the minister explained that legislation was updated and the Mineral Resources Authority was transformed into an economic authority to create a more investment-friendly environment. Challenges were removed to accelerate the implementation of the industrial complex project for phosphoric acid production, maximizing the added value of phosphate in Abu Tartur, New Valley. Agreements were also made with Egyptian and international companies to implement industrial projects that maximize the added value of mineral raw materials.
The petroleum sector also expanded the use of renewable energy instead of diesel at work sites, connected natural gas to about 813,000 housing units in 27 governorates, and converted about 80,000 cars to run on gas.
The minister made sure to salute workers in petroleum project companies operating abroad, describing them as ambassadors of the petroleum sector overseas. He also stressed the importance of expanding women’s participation in various sector activities and production sites.
