Egypt to Enhance Production at Zohr Gas Field with New Wells

Zohr's offshore petroleum and natural gas production (Egyptian Presidency)
Zohr's offshore petroleum and natural gas production (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt to Enhance Production at Zohr Gas Field with New Wells

Zohr's offshore petroleum and natural gas production (Egyptian Presidency)
Zohr's offshore petroleum and natural gas production (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt's Petroleum Company (PETROBEL) announced that in the fiscal year 2022/2023, the Zohr field produced an annual amount of 2.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas, accompanied by about 3,700 barrels per day of condensates.

During the company's general assembly to discuss the annual operational results, which was attended by Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla, Chairman Khaled Mowafy announced that plans are underway to put well number 20 into production by the end of October 2023, in line with the increasing gas production from the Zohr field in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Zohr field, the largest gas field in the Mediterranean, represents about 38 percent of Egypt's gas production. Its discovery in 2018 enabled Egypt to cease gas imports and become a net natural gas exporter.

Mowafy further added that the project connecting the Zohr field's processing station with the compressors of the Jamil station has been completed, which will significantly enhance the field's recovery rate.

He noted that preparations are also underway to drill several new wells during 2024-2025, continuously studying ways to maximize production rates and increase the recovery factor.

Molla stressed that the partnership between Petrobel, a subsidiary of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., and the Italian energy company Eni represents a successful model of cooperation and integration within Egypt's petroleum industry.

Meanwhile, Eni's Natural Resources Chief Operating Officer Guido Brusco announced that Algeria, Egypt, and Libya will be Italy's leading gas suppliers for the next few years.

Brusco told Reuters that Eni Energy group would invest heavily in Africa in exploration and new low-carbon projects.

Regarding the Zohr field, Brusco said its performance aligns with the company's plans and is better than bigger fields in Russia.

He added that Eni plans to invest around $3.5 billion over four years in activities including exploring and managing existing fields in Egypt.

Egypt's Petroleum Minister stressed the need to intensify drilling activities, implement feasible engineering and technical solutions, and employ the latest technologies to boost production rates.

He further highlighted the state's readiness to support this project entirely, one of Egypt's largest and most significant gas production projects.

Molla reaffirmed a promising opportunity to increase oil and gas production rates through enhancing operational efficiency and intensifying research and exploration efforts.

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Saudi Arabia Begins Marketing International Bonds Following 2025 Borrowing Plan Announcement

Riyadh (Reuters)
Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Begins Marketing International Bonds Following 2025 Borrowing Plan Announcement

Riyadh (Reuters)
Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has entered global debt markets with a planned sale of bonds in three tranches, aiming to use the proceeds to cover budget deficits and repay outstanding debt, according to IFR (International Financing Review).

The indicative pricing for the three-year bonds is set at 120 basis points above US Treasury bonds, while the six- and ten-year bonds are priced at 130 and 140 basis points above US Treasuries, respectively, as reported by Reuters.

The bonds, expected to be of benchmark size (typically at least $500 million), come a day after Saudi Arabia unveiled its 2025 borrowing plan. The Kingdom’s financing needs for the year are estimated at SAR 139 billion ($37 billion), with SAR 101 billion ($26.8 billion) allocated to cover the budget deficit and the remainder to service existing debt.

The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced that Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan had approved the 2025 borrowing plan following its endorsement by the NDMC Board. The plan highlights public debt developments for 2024, domestic debt market initiatives, and the 2025 financing roadmap, including the Kingdom’s issuance calendar for local sukuk denominated in Saudi Riyals.

The NDMC emphasized that Saudi Arabia aims to enhance sustainable access to debt markets and broaden its investor base. For 2025, the Kingdom will continue diversifying its domestic and international financing channels to meet funding needs efficiently. Plans include issuing sovereign debt instruments at fair prices under risk management frameworks and pursuing specialized financing opportunities to support economic growth, such as export credit agency-backed funding, infrastructure development financing, and exploring new markets and currencies.

Recently, Saudi Arabia secured a $2.5 billion Sharia-compliant revolving credit facility for three years from three regional and international financial institutions to address budgetary needs.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia issued $17 billion in dollar-denominated bonds, including $12 billion in January and $5 billion in sukuk in May. Rating agencies have recognized the Kingdom’s financial stability. In November, Moody’s upgraded Saudi Arabia’s rating to “AA3,” while Fitch assigned an “A+” rating, both with stable outlooks. S&P Global rated the Kingdom at “A/A-1” with a positive outlook, reflecting its low credit risk and strong capacity to meet financial obligations.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated Saudi Arabia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at 26.2% for 2024, describing it as low and sustainable. The IMF projects this ratio to reach 35% by 2029, with foreign borrowing playing a significant role in financing fiscal deficits.