CAIRO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Petroleum Ministry said on Monday it has made a new natural gas discovery in the Western Desert, with initial tests showing a promising daily output of about 36 million standard cubic feet.
The discovery was made by Khalda Petroleum Company, a major operator in Egypt's energy sector, the ministry said in a statement.
The exploratory well, Gomana-1, was drilled after electric logs indicated substantial gas-bearing zones, it said. Testing and a preliminary assessment of the well's reserves are under way, and Khalda is working to bring the well into production within two days, according to the ministry.
The find is the latest in a series of discoveries by Khalda Petroleum and its international partner, Apache Corporation, as they continue to develop gas and oil resources in the Western Desert.
The ministry said the additional output will support Egypt's strategy to maximize domestic production and reinforce its role as a regional energy hub.
Egypt has been trying to boost its oil and gas production amid a decline in natural gas output in recent years. In August, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt's current natural gas production stands at 4.1 billion cubic feet per day and is expected to rise to 6.6 billion cubic feet per day by 2027. ■