‘Bashrush,’ a New Gas Field in Egypt

FILE PHOTO: A fishing boat sails in the Mediterranean Sea near an oil station in Alexandria, Egypt, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A fishing boat sails in the Mediterranean Sea near an oil station in Alexandria, Egypt, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo
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‘Bashrush,’ a New Gas Field in Egypt

FILE PHOTO: A fishing boat sails in the Mediterranean Sea near an oil station in Alexandria, Egypt, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A fishing boat sails in the Mediterranean Sea near an oil station in Alexandria, Egypt, July 18, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany/File Photo

Eni and partners BP and Total have discovered gas and condensate in the Bashrush prospect, 11 km offshore Egypt.

The well had found 102 meters of net gas pay in high-quality sandstones in the Abu Madi formation.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that the initial output of a previously-announced gas well off the coast of Egypt has been estimated at an average of about 32 million cubic feet per day (cfpd).

The discovery has been made at the Bashrush well on the North El Hammad licence by Eni, BP, and Total, Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla said in a statement on Tuesday.

The three oil companies will coordinate with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to develop a plan to put the well on production.

Eni, together with its partners BP and Total and in coordination with EGAS, will also continue screening the development options of Bashrush, with the aim of fast tracking production through synergies with the area's existing infrastructures.

Eni announced that production from southwest Meleiha concession, which started in July 2019, increased to 12,000 barrels of crude oil per day in one year after the drilling of the SWM-A-6X well.

In the North El Hammad concession, which is in participation with EGAS, Eni through its affiliate IEOC holds 37.5% interest and the role of Operator, BP holds the 37.5%, and Total holds the 25% of the contractor share.

Eni has been present in Egypt since 1954, where it operates through IEOC Production. The current equity production of IEOC is above 300,000 boepd.



Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

 Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
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Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

 Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA

The Cluster2 Company, operator of Taif International Airport, announced the launch of three direct flights per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air, starting January 31, SPA reported.

The launch of international flights through the cluster’s airports comes as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the passenger experience and expanding international travel options, while continuing to build strategic partnerships with global airlines to enhance air connectivity in the Kingdom.


Oil Prices Rise as US Ramps up Action against Venezuela Tankers

A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
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Oil Prices Rise as US Ramps up Action against Venezuela Tankers

A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Oil prices rose on Monday after the US intercepted ​an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela and tensions in Russia's war against Ukraine remained high, with both developments raising fears of supply disruption.

Brent crude futures gained $1.31, or 2.17%, to $61.78 a barrel by 1316 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose by $1.25, or 2.2%, to $57.77.

Market participants now see a risk of disruption to Venezuelan oil exports because of the US ‌embargo, having previously ‌been complacent in that regard, said ‌UBS ⁠analyst Giovanni ​Staunovo.

Venezuelan crude ‌accounts for about 1% of global supply.

Growing supply from the US and the OPEC+ producer group have largely offset worries over supply disruption elsewhere to keep Brent futures around $65 a barrel in the second half of 2025, though prices have eased in the past month because of oversupply concerns.

Oil prices have been supported by developments off Venezuela while ⁠Russia-Ukraine tensions simmer in the background in an otherwise very bearish market, said June ‌Goh, analyst at Sparta Commodities.

The US Coast ‍Guard is pursuing an oil ‍tanker in international waters near Venezuela in what would be the ‍second such operation over the weekend and the third in less than two weeks if successful, officials told Reuters on Sunday.

A rebound in oil prices has been sparked by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a "total ​and complete" blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and subsequent developments there, followed by reports of a Ukrainian drone strike ⁠on a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Mediterranean, said IG analyst Tony Sycamore.

The Brent and WTI benchmarks fell by about 1% last week.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that talks between US, European and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the past three days in an effort to end Russia's war in Ukraine had focused on aligning positions. Those meetings and separate talks with Russian negotiators had been productive, he said.

However, the top foreign policy aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin said that changes made by the Europeans ‌and Ukraine to US proposals had not improved prospects for peace.


GASTAT: Construction Costs in Saudi Arabia Rose 1% in November

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
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GASTAT: Construction Costs in Saudi Arabia Rose 1% in November

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA

The Construction Cost Index in Saudi Arabia rose 1% in November 2025 compared with the same month last year, driven by equal 1% increases in both residential and non-residential construction costs, according to data released by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025.

The Construction Cost Index bulletin is part of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to develop statistical products for vital sectors and provide a reliable and effective reference with accurate estimates to support decision-making by contractors, real estate developers, and relevant entities.

These efforts contribute to drawing a clear roadmap for residential and non-residential construction projects in the building and construction sector.