Egypt: BP Completes 2 New Gas Wells in Raven Field

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, accompanied by several leaders from the petroleum sector, inspect the development and production of natural gas from the West Nile Delta offshore fields in the Mediterranean Sea (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources) 
Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, accompanied by several leaders from the petroleum sector, inspect the development and production of natural gas from the West Nile Delta offshore fields in the Mediterranean Sea (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources) 
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Egypt: BP Completes 2 New Gas Wells in Raven Field

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, accompanied by several leaders from the petroleum sector, inspect the development and production of natural gas from the West Nile Delta offshore fields in the Mediterranean Sea (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources) 
Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, accompanied by several leaders from the petroleum sector, inspect the development and production of natural gas from the West Nile Delta offshore fields in the Mediterranean Sea (Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources) 

British Petroleum (BP) has successfully completed two additional gas wells in the Raven Field, part of its significant West Nile Delta (WND) development off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, the Ministry of Petroleum announced in a statement on Sunday.
The drilling was carried out using the Valaris DS-12 drillship, which began operations in mid-2024.
In a statement received by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Ministry said subsea activities are currently ongoing to tie the two wells to the existing network in the Mediterranean, paving the way for production to commence.
Gas production is now expected to begin in February 2025, three months ahead of schedule, following expedited drilling and installation efforts.
“After completing operations at Raven, the Valaris DS-12 has moved on to the King exploration area, where it will target natural gas in the Lower Miocene layer,” the Ministry said.
It added that the reservoir is anticipated to be reached by late February 2025.
The proximity of the King area to BP’s existing West Nile Delta infrastructure will facilitate a seamless connection to the company’s production facilities, supporting Egypt’s broader strategy to boost local gas output.
This development is part of the Ministry of Petroleum’s wider initiative to expand offshore drilling in the Mediterranean.
Recent projects include Chevron’s Khanjar-1, ExxonMobil’s Nefertari-1, BP’s Raven field operations, and Eni’s resumed drilling at the Zohr field.
These efforts are crucial to strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional energy hub, the Ministry said.

 



Saudi-European Partnership Launched between SIDF Investment and Investindustrial  

Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
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Saudi-European Partnership Launched between SIDF Investment and Investindustrial  

Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 
Officials at the signing ceremony between SIDF Investment Company and Investindustrial Group. (SIDF Investment Company) 

In a significant step toward strengthening Saudi Arabia’s industrial capabilities, SIDF Investment Co., the financial arm of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, signed a strategic partnership agreement with European private equity firm Investindustrial on Tuesday.

The alliance aims to attract global institutional capital and advanced industrial expertise to the Kingdom, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for high-value-added manufacturing.

Fahad Al-Naeem, CEO of SIDF Investment Co., described the agreement as a pivotal new chapter in the firm’s investment strategy.

“This partnership with Investindustrial is designed to connect niche industrial specializations and operational know-how with global markets,” he said. “It will support Saudi Arabia’s industrial ecosystem and empower the Kingdom to become both a regional and international platform for manufacturing growth.”

Al-Naeem added that SIDF Investment would leverage its deep local market knowledge to smooth the entry of global manufacturers into Saudi Arabia and integrate them into international supply chains.

Investindustrial Chairman Andrea Bonomi expressed confidence in the alignment between the firm’s investment portfolio and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. “Many of our investments are well positioned to support the Kingdom’s strategic ambitions, creating long-term partnerships and delivering sustainable value,” he said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal, Vice Chairman of SIDF Investment Company, and Italy’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Investindustrial currently manages more than $19 billion in assets and operates across eight global offices. The firm specializes in medium-sized companies, focusing on sustainable value creation and international expansion.

This partnership reinforces the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy and Vision 2030, both of which seek to position the Kingdom as a global center for advanced manufacturing and integrated supply chains.

The collaboration will focus on joint investments to localize advanced industries within the Kingdom, while enabling Saudi small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to tap into global value chains managed by Investindustrial.

Key sectors targeted by the agreement include machinery and equipment, automation, medical devices, food production, and sustainable consumer goods. The goal is to maximize local added value, stimulate innovation, and enhance competitiveness across the Saudi industrial landscape.

This move is expected to accelerate industrial transformation in the Kingdom, paving the way for increased foreign investment, job creation, and greater integration with international markets.