Egypt's petroleum minister: a man with a plan
Tarek el-Molla believes his country will be a major oil hub, and self-sufficient in natural gas
THE EGYPTIAN energy sector’s fall from promise to penury was swift. Just twelve years ago, two liquefied natural gas plants were about to come on stream – the Segas facility in Damietta and Egyptian LNG’s plant in Idku – each underpinned by several years of consistent, industry-leading success in the upstream that also brought plans for gasification of the local economy. But exploration dwindled, the discoveries ended, and the plants ran out of gas. Saboteurs killed off piped exports from Egypt to the Levant through Sinai. All the while, the energy needs of the Arab world’s most populous country soared, spurred by subsidised prices that drain the country’s budget. The 2011 revolution and the
Also in this section
22 May 2025
The next energy crisis could come from the severing of the link between oil and gas prices, with potentially severe economic consequences
22 May 2025
With contract awards looming on the Kuwait-Saudi backed Dorra field, the long-stalled gas project appears finally to be gaining traction—despite Iranian objections
21 May 2025
From the upstream sector to the end-users, gas is no longer seen as a transition fuel or an afterthought, executives told attendees at the World Gas Conference
21 May 2025
Integrated refining and petrochemicals company highlights strategic flexibility amid trade war risks and long-term planning to futureproof business, says CEO Prabh Das
