Cairo:Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, held discussions with Chevron Vice President of Exploration, Kevin McLachlan, focusing on the expansion of natural gas exploration in the region. The talks occurred against the backdrop of promising opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting took place during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2026) and reviewed positive outcomes from Chevron's drilling activities. Specifically, the results from the Nargis-2 well confirmed the continuity of gas-bearing formations identified earlier in the Nargis-1 well, along with the discovery of an additional gas-bearing layer.

The discussions also covered the progress in developing Cyprus' Aphrodite gas field and the necessary agreements to link its production to Egypt's infrastructure. These steps aim to facilitate a final investment decision and project implementation, utilizing Egypt's facilities for gas processing and liquefaction, thereby enhancing its role as a regional natural gas trading hub.

Chevron's current investments in Egypt include six offshore exploration areas, with the company being a partner in the North Cleopatra area where Shell is the operator. Minister Badawi emphasized the significance of the partnership with Chevron and the importance of accelerating exploration activities to boost domestic natural gas production and resource utilization.

McLachlan highlighted the importance of Egypt within Chevron's Eastern Mediterranean portfolio, pointing to the country's investment opportunities and advanced infrastructure. He reiterated Chevron's commitment to expanding its exploration activities and strengthening its partnership with Egypt's petroleum sector.