A former Egyptian petroleum minister has caused a stir by suggesting that Italian energy giant Eni is about to announce another massive gas find - three times as big as its existing offshore field.
Eni revealed almost three years ago that it had found one of the world’s biggest gas fields offshore, called Zohr.
Now former petroleum minister Osama Kamal has suggested in a live television interview that the Italian firm is about to reveal another monster discovery.
The Noor field reserves are expected to reach over 90 trillion cubic feet, three times that of the Zohr reserves, according to ministry of petroleum sources.
Former Osama Kamal said: “If you remember two months ago we said that more discoveries will follow in this area. Hopefully, this great news will be announced by the President and the minister of petroleum in a few days.”
Without directly referencing the reports, Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said the country may stop importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the fourth quarter.
“The exports of Zohr gas field as well as other gas fields’ production will start early next year,” said El-Molla said. “I don’t think there will be more tenders; I think this is it. Local production should cover our needs,” he said.
An Eni spokesperson declined to comment on the remarks of the former minister when contacted by Arab News.
Eni stock was up by about 0.7 percent on Tuesday.
Egypt expects to attract $10 billion both this year and next year in foreign investment in its oil and gas industry. The country also plans to stop importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of the current fiscal year.
Egypt plans to suspend the state’s subsidies for petroleum by 2019, as part of an economic reform plan.
