Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Sunday met with ExxonMobil's Vice President for Exploration, John Ardill, to discuss the company's exploration activities in the Mediterranean Sea and future cooperation, the presidency said. Al-Sisi affirmed that ExxonMobil is a strategic partner for Egypt in the energy sector and expressed his appreciation for the company's vital role. He also followed up on the progress of work in the company's concession areas, particularly in the Mediterranean. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi, and the chairperson and managing director of ExxonMobil Egypt, Amr Abou Eita. Ardill presented a detailed overview of the work in the company's two Mediterranean concessions, the "Cairo" and "Masry" blocks, the presidency statement said. He noted that the latest technologies are being used in drilling operations and that exploration efforts are being intensified following the completion of seismic surveys, with the aim of making new discoveries that will enhance Egypt's position as a regional energy hub. During the meeting, the petroleum minister reviewed the available investment opportunities in research and exploration, affirming that ExxonMobil is one of Egypt's most prominent international partners in the oil and gas sector. Al-Sisi stressed the importance the state attaches to natural gas exploration projects and its keenness to overcome obstacles and facilitate the necessary procedures to advance these projects. He expressed Egypt's hope that ExxonMobil will intensify its exploration and development activities, employing the latest drilling technologies to help increase production rates and enhance national energy security.
