Egypt’s Domestic Natural Gas Industry

In just over a decade, Egypt has become one of the largest domestic markets in Africa and amongst developing countries. Over the last 15-20 years, gas production and consumption have been moving upwards in tandem. Both stood at 6.8 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 1990, and both quadrupled respectively to 26.8 bcm and 25.7 bcm in 2004 (BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2005). Egyptian ministerial sources claim that domestic consumption rose from 22.1 bcm in 2000/01 to 30.1 bcm in 2003/04 (Ministry of Petroleum 2005), with another source claiming a higher figure of 31 bcm for 2004 (Abubakr 2005). Data discrepancies aside, Egypt has achieved a remarkable degree of gas penetration from rather modest beginnings. By comparison, older and more mature markets in Indonesia, Argentina and neighbouring Algeria consumed in 2004 33.7 bcm, 37.4 bcm and 21.2 bcm respectively (BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2005).

By: Randa Alami