Egypt's Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi has directed the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) to coordinate with Petroshahd to bring forward the start of operations at the West Amer area in Egypt's Eastern Desert to September 2025, instead of January 2026. This directive, issued during Badawi's field visit to Petroshahd's site in the Western Desert, comes following the completion of seismic data interpretation for West Amer, which was carried out two years ago. According to the cabinet statement, the acceleration of the project is expected to enhance domestic crude oil production and help reduce pressure on the national import bill. Petroshahd, a joint venture between EGPC and Chile's Sipetrol, also outlined plans to increase output from 9,500 to 11,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2025. Moreover, Badawi reviewed production and drilling operations and inspected a development well being drilled using Rig 8, which is owned by the Modern Drilling Company (MDC). He commended the teams on their efforts to fast-track development and make full use of existing infrastructure. In addition, the minister held discussions with company executives and field workers, emphasising the importance of strict compliance with safety and occupational health standards. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
