(Ecofin Agency) - The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum has given the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) the directives to grants Eni the Zohr Development Lease.

This lease makes provision for the development of the gas field, situated in the Shorouk Concession, offshore Egypt.

The development plan predicts the commencement of production by the end of 2017, with a progressive increase till a capacity of approximately 75 million scm/d of gas (about 500,000 boepd) is reached by 2019.

According to Energy-pedia, the speedy achievement of this big project will be possible through cooperation with Petroject, Enppi and Saipem contractors, who have always being a part of the success of Eni’s development activities in Egypt.

On August 30, 2015, the Zohr discovery was announced after the drilling of the Zohr-1 well which occurred within the Shorouk Concession Agreement, in which IEOC is the sole operator. However, the Zohr-2; the first appraisal well of Zohr discovery is at present in its drilling phase.

Anita Fatunji