Firms are bullish about Western Desert prospects
Egyptian independents plan busy year
The country is improving its attractiveness, but decline rates make activity a must
Five London-listed independents have detailed programmes for Egyptian drilling in 2022, as the country’s offer of access to productive acreage and improved fiscal terms ticks producers’ boxes. But to some extent, work is not optional, given drops in production when Egypt’s fields are not worked over. Capricorn Energy is in bullish mood about the Western Desert interests it purchased late in the third quarter of last year. "We are very encouraged by the initial operating performance,” says CEO Simon Thomson, given “production growth ahead of expectations”. The firm’s production from its four licences—Obaiyed (50pc ownership), Badr El Din (50pc), North East Abu Gharadig (26pc) and Alam El Shaw
Also in this section
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
14 January 2026
Chavez’s socialist reforms boosted state control but pushed knowledge and capital out of the sector, opening the way for the US shale revolution
