Egypt is seeking to consolidate its position as Africa’s energy hub, leveraging its infrastructure and international alliances, particularly with Apache and ExxonMobil, to secure its supplies and enhance its attractiveness to investors.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnerships with the American companies Apache and ExxonMobil at the EGYPES 2026 trade show in Cairo on 31 March, according to an official statement from the presidency on Friday.
The initiative comes amid significant instability in regional energy markets, marked by supply disruptions and rising prices.
Through these discussions with the executives of the two major companies, Cairo aims to accelerate investments and facilitate exploration and production operations.
The head of state emphasised the need to “remove obstacles and maximise investments” to consolidate a partnership deemed central to national energy security.
Discussions also focused on optimising existing fields, particularly in the Western Desert, as well as expanding exploration activities.
This positioning is based on Apache’s already significant presence in the Egyptian energy landscape.
Present since 1994, the American company has invested approximately $5 billion in its local operations over the past five years.
It now accounts for nearly 21 percent of national oil production and holds approximately 14 percent of the country’s reserves, confirming the structuring role of foreign investment in the hydrocarbon sector in North Africa.
Building on this momentum, ExxonMobil detailed its projects in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly around the “Glaucus” and “Pegasus” gas fields, located off the coast of Cyprus.
The company plans to transport and liquefy this gas in Egypt, thereby strengthening the
country’s position as a regional hub for natural gas processing and export.
Exploration operations are also underway, in partnership with QatarEnergy, in several offshore areas, with a drilling programme scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
This intensification of investment comes at a time when global energy balances remain fragile.
At the opening of EGYPES, Al-Sisi referred to a crisis marked by supply shortages, followed by price increases, against a backdrop of persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
More Explore: Egypt-strengthens-cooperation-with-Apache,-ExxonMobil
