DUBAI: Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, has underscored the country's unwavering commitment to deepening collaboration with UAE-based energy companies and maintaining a stable, attractive investment climate to support the expansion of their operations in Egypt.
The message was delivered during a high-level meeting with Richard Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Dana Gas, where both parties discussed the company's ongoing activities and future ambitions in the Egyptian energy landscape.
The discussions centred on Dana Gas's current operations across Egypt and its strategic plans to scale up exploration, development, and production. A key focus was the company's drive to increase natural gas output from its onshore concessions in the Nile Delta, a region that remains vital to Egypt's domestic energy supply.
A supportive policy framework
Minister Badawi used the occasion to reaffirm the Egyptian government's steadfast support for drilling, exploration, and development programmes led by international partners.
He emphasised that the state remains fully engaged in efforts to boost production from existing fields while accelerating the development timeline for new discoveries. This dual-track approach — maximising mature assets while fast-tracking greenfield projects — reflects the ministry's broader strategy to strengthen Egypt's energy security and reduce its reliance on imports.
The minister also expressed Egypt's genuine appreciation for the long-standing strategic partnership with Dana Gas, describing the relationship as a model for the kind of mutually beneficial collaboration the government seeks to foster with international energy players.
He stressed that the ministry would continue to stand alongside its partners, working proactively to identify and address operational and regulatory challenges as they arise.
Embracing advanced technologies
A notable element of Badawi's remarks was the emphasis on technological advancement in Egypt's upstream sector. The minister confirmed that Egypt is actively expanding the deployment of advanced production techniques — most notably horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing — to enhance well productivity and maximise hydrocarbon recovery from existing reserves.
The technology-driven push signals the government's recognition that sustaining output in a maturing basin requires more than conventional methods; it demands innovation and a willingness to adopt industry-leading practices.
For his part, Richard Hall offered an upbeat assessment of Dana Gas's recent performance in Egypt. He praised the consistent support provided by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and its affiliated entities, noting that the collaborative relationship had been instrumental in the company's operational achievements.
Hall revealed that the firm's latest drilling programme had delivered a notable increase in proven gas reserves, with estimates pointing to growth in the range of 20 per cent to 25 per cent.
These encouraging results, Hall explained, had given the company the confidence to expand its exploration programme. Dana Gas has now committed to adding two additional wells to its drilling schedule, a move designed to accelerate production timelines and unlock the full potential of its concession areas in Egypt.
The decision reflects both the geological promise of the company's acreage and a broader vote of confidence in the Egyptian petroleum sector's trajectory.
Hall went on to express optimism about the future of Egypt's energy industry, pointing to the continued improvement in the country's investment climate as a decisive factor behind the company's willingness to deepen its commitment.
His remarks echoed a sentiment increasingly shared among international operators active in Egypt: that the combination of regulatory reform, reliable partnership with state institutions, and promising subsurface potential makes the country a compelling destination for upstream capital.
