Egypt's daily gas production is expected to increase by approximately 25% after the start of production in West Nile Delta Development project, German utility DEA announced. DEA further said in a statement released on March 19, 2015, that West Nile Delta development is considered as of prime importance for Egypt's energy sector. The start of production in West Nile Delta project is planned for 2017. DEA holds a 40 per cent share in the concession North Alexandria and a 20 per cent share in West Mediterranean Deepwater. Operator and owner of the remaining shares is BP. Meanwhile, Dr. Hans-Hermann Ecke has been named as the new general manager of DEA's Egypt unit, the Hamburg-headquartered company added in its latest statement. Ecke has a PhD in geology. He has experience in Egypt's upstream industry and DEA Egypt's E&P projects from his earlier employment as general manager in the period from 2009 to 2011. In the following years, Ecke headed the New Ventures department as senior V.P. at DEA's headquarters in Hamburg. Ecke was also posted to Cairo as exploration manager and deputy general manager from 2001 to 2005. He has been employed in various positions at DEA since 1986. "I am looking forward to the upcoming tasks in Egypt, where DEA has already been part of the oil and gas industry for more than 40 years," Ecke said. One important task for Ecke is the upcoming realization of the $12-billion West Nile Delta project. DEA is a partner in developing the project's 5 Tcf of gas resources. "This project is an exciting challenge. The start of production is planned for 2017. Until then, the project will be connected to existing infrastructure," states Ecke. "The West Nile Delta development is considered as of prime importance for Egypt's energy sector. It is expected to increase daily gas production in Egypt by approximately 25%," he added.
