Production is set to begin at BP's Fayoum and Giza gas fields before the end of the year, according to a petroleum ministry statement. The fields are expected to produce 500-700 million cubic feet of gas per day. The operation is part of the second phase of the West Nile Delta project. BP started production last month at the Atoll Phase One project in the North Damietta concession in the East Nile Delta. Production was seven months ahead of schedule and 33 percent below the initial cost estimate. Production on BP's Taurus and Libra fields in the West Nile Delta concession also began in May 2017, eight months ahead of schedule. Egypt's natural gas production currently stands at 5.5 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day, after it increased by 1.6 bcf per day in 2017, Petroleum Minister Tarek El-Molla had said last month. Egypt's production is expected to exceed 6 bcf per day before the end of 2018. Egypt aims to become an international hub for gas and petroleum production and trading, with the aim of becoming self-sufficient in natural gas by 2020. Source: Ahram online
