Egypt has launched fresh offshore drilling operations in the Mediterranean as the government steps up efforts to increase domestic gas production and reduce dependence on fuel imports.

The project, located at the Narcissus gas field, is being developed by Chevron in collaboration with Eni and other regional partners.

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, attended the start of drilling activities aboard the Stena Forth drilling vessel, which recently arrived at the offshore site.

Officials say the development is part of a broader government plan to speed up the production of untapped gas discoveries in the Mediterranean as Egypt faces rising local energy demand and increasing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

The Egyptian government has been encouraging international oil and gas companies to accelerate investments in offshore fields in a bid to strengthen energy security and limit the country’s reliance on imported natural gas.
Authorities believe the Narcissus field could play an important role in boosting future gas output and supporting Egypt’s economic objectives.

Badawi also praised the cooperation between state energy institutions and international operators, saying stronger coordination helped resolve technical and operational issues that had previously slowed progress on the project.

Although Egypt remains a major energy player in the region following significant discoveries such as the Zohr gas field, the country has increasingly turned to imports in recent years to meet growing domestic consumption.