Minister of Planning and Economic Development Ahmed Rostom and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi discussed on Sunday, September 27, 2026, ways to monitor performance indicators for developments in the petroleum sector, particularly efforts to increase production and investment, as well as a number of issues related to improving services provided to citizens.
The Planning Minister said the petroleum sector is one of the vital sectors of the national economy, given its key role in meeting domestic energy needs, supporting various productive and service activities, attracting investment, strengthening state resources, and increasing the economy’s added value.
Rostom stressed the importance of developing the sector and improving its production efficiency to support the national economy and achieve sustainable development goals. He also highlighted the petroleum sector’s role in supporting the national economy and contributing to economic growth, pointing to a notable improvement in its performance.
Oil refining recorded 22.4% growth in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025/2026, while the activity grew by 8.7% during the fiscal year as a whole. Rostom commended national efforts to boost investment in the petroleum and energy sectors and the successful settlement of outstanding dues to foreign partners, which contributed to restoring confidence in the sector’s investment climate and paving the way for increased investment in exploration, prospecting, and field development.
Such investment, he said, would support higher domestic production and strengthen the sector’s ability to meet market needs. For his part, the Petroleum Minister said the petroleum sector is pursuing a path of positive growth and overcoming challenges, as reflected in indicators from the Ministry of Planning, with crude oil production returning to growth, oil refining expanding, and the decline in natural gas production being contained in preparation for a return to growth.
Badawi said these results reflected the significant efforts of sector employees, noting that the settlement of outstanding dues to foreign partners had restored the flow of investment needed for field development and exploration after the accumulation of such dues had contributed to declining production.
Increasing domestic oil and gas production, he added, is a top priority for the ministry through the development of existing fields and the intensification of exploration for new discoveries to meet the needs of citizens and state sectors and reduce imports. Regarding services for citizens, Badawi said priority would be given to expanding natural gas connections to homes as an alternative to LPG cylinders, providing a more convenient and less costly service and improving quality of life.
He also highlighted plans to expand the conversion of vehicles to run on natural gas and increase the number of natural gas fueling stations to facilitate access to the service and reduce fuel costs for vehicle owners. On diversifying energy sources, Badawi said the ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Electricity to implement the State’s strategy and increase the contribution of renewable energy to power generation, thereby reducing gas consumption and helping lower the cost of gas imports.
He added that projects to connect Cypriot gas fields to Egypt’s infrastructure would strengthen Egypt’s role as a regional energy hub, maximize the economic benefits of existing facilities, and secure additional gas supplies for the domestic market. The Petroleum Minister thanked Rostom and the two ministries’ teams for their constructive cooperation in setting targets and priorities to support production and improve services for citizens.
The meeting also reviewed natural gas growth rates and the positive growth recorded by the petroleum sector. It also examined indicators for expanding and developing fuel service stations for gasoline and diesel as part of efforts to improve services in citizens’ daily lives, keep pace with urban growth, and provide services in remote and desert areas and new communities.