Meed | Egypt gas project activity collapses amid energy crisis

Egypt gas project activity collapses amid energy crisis

27 February 2025

The total value of active Egyptian gas projects has fallen by 79% despite a steep decline in domestic gas output that has ramped up the need for costly imports.

At the start of 2019, the total value of active gas projects in Egypt was $41.5bn. This has now sunk to $8.6bn, according to data from regional project tracker MEED Projects.

Despite the billions of dollars of investment that has been sunk into upstream projects in Egypt’s gas sector in recent years, production has been dropping after it peaked in 2021, according to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

In 2021, Egypt produced 67.8 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas. This fell to 64.5 bcm in 2022 and 57.1 bcm in 2023.

In May 2024, Egypt’s domestic gas output hit a six-year low, down by about 25% from its 2021 peak.

Declining domestic production has led to a severe energy shortage in Egypt.

Last year, the North African country had to resort to load-shedding to keep its grid functioning amid a lack of gas supply and rising demand, while the deepening energy crisis strained Cairo’s budget as it grappled with a heavy subsidies bill.

In the past 12 months, Gulf countries have had to help Egypt finance liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports worth billions of dollars to try and ease the country’s crisis.

Egypt had planned to become a regional gas hub and a major exporter after Italy’s Eni discovered the Zohr offshore field in 2015.

When Zohr started production in 2017, Egypt’s oil and gas ministry said that the field would produce 2.7 billion cubic feet a day (bcf/d) until 2039, but after rising to a peak at 3.2 bcf/d in 2019 output fell to just 1.9 bcf/d in the first half of 2024.

Production outlook

The collapse in the total value of gas projects in Egypt does not bode well for future domestic gas production – and signals that the country may remain reliant on costly gas imports for some time to come.

In addition, many of Egypt’s biggest active gas projects remain at the study stage with significant uncertainty about when execution will start and new production will be brought online.

A total of $5.1bn of all of Egypt’s active gas projects are currently in the study stage, making up 60% of active gas projects in the country.

Meanwhile, 12% of active gas projects are at the bid evaluation stage and 27% are currently under execution.

Last year, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company launched an international bid round for the exploration and exploitation of natural gas and crude oil across 12 blocks in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta, as part of an initiative to try to boost production.

The 12 blocks were comprised of 10 offshore blocks and two onshore blocks.

While this initiative is promising, it is expected that Egypt’s efforts to attract bidders could be held back by recent problems with prompt payments to international oil companies (IOCs).

The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has accrued arrears to IOCs, estimated at $4bn-$5bn.

These debts have arisen due to a combination of foreign exchange shortages, as well as other structural issues, including declining domestic gas production, rising domestic consumption that limits gas export opportunities, and increased subsidies provided by EGPC to the electricity sector.

While gas project activity has plummeted since the start of 2019, oil project activity has seen a slight uptick, according to MEED Projects.

At the beginning of 2019, the total value of all active oil projects in Egypt was $15.2bn. As of 11 February 2024, this had risen by 15% to $17.6bn.

Economic issues are expected to hamper the development and execution of projects in the oil and gas sectors in 2025.

Inflation is rising, the Egyptian pound is continuing to lose value and millions of Egyptians are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.

Inflation stood at 24% in December 2024 and Egypt’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains high, at 89% for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

The low value of the Egyptian pound is likely to cause significant problems to those that want to execute large-scale projects in Egypt’s oil and gas sectors, as it is likely to increase the cost of importing raw materials and equipment.

In December, the European Commission announced a plan to disburse €1bn ($1.05bn) in loans to help Egypt cover part of its financing needs for the fiscal year 2024-25 and “ensure macroeconomic stability”.

Financial support has also been provided by the IMF, the World Bank and the UAE.

However, with Egypt’s perilous economic situation hampering project development and a failure to execute strategic projects constraining economic growth, it is possible that the North African country will be reliant on significant assistance from its foreign partners for energy imports for some time to come.

MEED’s March 2025 special report on Egypt includes:

> COMMENT: Egypt battles structural issues
> GOVERNMENT: Egypt is in the eye of Trump’s Gaza storm
> ECONOMY: Egypt’s economy gets its mojo back
> OIL & GAS: Egypt gas project activity collapses amid energy crisis
> POWER & WATER: Egypt’s utility projects keep pace
> CONSTRUCTION: Coastal city scheme is a boon to Egypt construction

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Wil Crisp

Exclusive from Meed

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26 October 2026
Nakheel awards $259m Dubai Islands buildings contract
26 October 2026
Morocco plans second high-speed rail phase to Agadir
26 October 2026
Riyadh tenders King Salman Stadium works
26 October 2026

Saudi Arabia raises electricity tariffs
26 October 2026

Saudi Energy, formerly Saudi Electricity Company, has announced revised electricity tariffs, with the new rates scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

The revised tariff schedule, published on the company’s official website, covers residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, charitable and government customers.

The largest percentage increase in consumption rates is 16.7%, for residential customers using up to 6,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month. Residential customers will pay 21 halalas/kWh for monthly consumption of up to 6,000kWh, up from 18 halalas. For consumption above 6,000kWh, the rate will rise from 30 to 33 halalas/kWh, a 10% increase.

The industrial tariff will increase by 15%, from 20 to 23 halalas/kWh. Commercial customers, private healthcare facilities and private educational facilities will pay 25 halalas/kWh (up from 22 halalas) for consumption up to 6,000kWh a month, and 35 halalas/kWh above that level, up from 32 halalas.

Tariffs for charities and government customers will also increase. In addition to charges based on electricity consumption, customers will pay a fixed monthly fee determined by the capacity of their electricity metre. This replaces the previous separate charge for meter reading, maintenance and billing, with VAT applied to the revised tariffs.

Electricity investment

The new tariffs coincide with changes to water consumption tariffs announced by the National Water Company, also effective from 1 January 2027.

King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud directed support measures following a proposal presented by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

This includes raising the minimum wage required for Saudi nationals to count as full employees towards private sector localisation quotas under the Nitaqat programme.

The tariff changes come as Saudi Arabia plans substantial investment in its electricity infrastructure. In September 2025, Saudi Energy announced plans to invest SR220bn ($58.7bn) in power infrastructure projects between 2025 and 2030.

A June 2025 report by Fitch Ratings forecast negative free cash flow of about SR16bn a year over the period and rising leverage, reflecting the financial demands of the programme.

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Mark Dowdall
Dubai Municipality confirms AED3bn Tasreef drainage awards
26 October 2026

Dubai Municipality has confirmed it has awarded four contracts worth AED3bn ($817m) to expand the emirate’s stormwater drainage network by about 100 square kilometres under phase three of the Tasreef programme.

The projects will cover Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al-Quoz, Al-Barsha, Al-Wasl and Al-Marmoom. The works include constructing and extending main stormwater drainage lines with diameters of up to three metres.

The four packages are part of Dubai’s AED30bn Tasreef programme, which aims to increase the emirate’s stormwater drainage capacity by 700% and reduce costs associated with pumping stations, network operations and maintenance by 20%.

The contracts have been awarded to China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and three local firms: Arifco Group, Nael Construction & Contracting (NCC) and Detech Contracting. Dubai Municipality did not state which projects the awards relate to.

According to sources, the contract awards include packages TF-15-C1, TF-15-C2 and TF-13-C1.

The first package, TF-15-C1, involves the construction of 21 kilometres of main and secondary drainage lines along Al-Wasl Road and in surrounding areas. It will cover Za’abeel 2, Al-Wasl, Jumeirah 1 and 2, Al-Bada’a, Al-Satwa and Dubai World Trade Centre. The estimated $100m contract was awarded to Detech in July, as exclusively reported by MEED.

The second package, TF-15-C2, covers the corridor between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al-Khail Road. It includes about 14km of main drainage lines serving Al-Quoz Industrial Areas 1, 3 and 4, and Al-Barsha 1. In July, MEED reported that CSCEC had won the engineering, procurement and construction contract for this project.

The third package, TF-13-C1, covers Al-Marmoom, where 23km of drainage infrastructure will be developed. According to a source, Arifco has been awarded this contract.

The final package covers Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, where about 42km of main drainage lines will serve Umm Suqeim 1, 2 and 3; Umm Al-Sheif; Jumeirah 3; Al-Safa 1 and 2; and Al-Manara.

In May, MEED reported that NCC had been awarded a contract to build a sewage and stormwater drainage system, DS-204. However, it is unconfirmed whether this relates to the same project.

Earlier, in February, the municipality confirmed it had awarded contracts for five new projects under phase two of the programme to expand and strengthen Dubai’s stormwater drainage network.

These included two contracts awarded to Detech and one to CSCEC for stormwater drainage infrastructure. In addition, two consultancy contracts were awarded for the study and design of drainage systems in selected areas across the emirate.

Cumulatively valued at AED2.5bn, the new projects will serve 30 vital areas, spanning approximately 430 million square metres and supporting an estimated population of three million residents by 2040.

Previously, in April 2025, an earlier package of awards was announced under phase one of the Tasreef programme. The overall masterplan aims to expand Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity by 700% by 2033.

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Mark Dowdall
Nakheel awards $259m Dubai Islands buildings contract
26 October 2026

Dubai-based master developer Nakheel, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has awarded local firm Parkway International Contracting a construction contract valued at about AED950m ($259m) for phases two and four of Bay Grove Residences on Dubai Islands.

The package covers 617 residential units across eight buildings, ranging from one to four bedrooms, together with basement structures, infrastructure and community amenities including swimming pools, sports courts and fitness centres.

Phase two comprises 360 homes across four buildings, with main construction scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Phase four includes 257 homes across four buildings, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2029.

The award follows an earlier contract valued at about AED800m ($218m) awarded to local contractor Metac General Contracting Company for phases one and three, covering 537 homes across seven buildings.

Together, the two contracts total more than AED1.75bn ($476m) and account for all 1,154 planned homes across the 15 buildings of Bay Grove Residences.

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Yasir Iqbal
Morocco plans second high-speed rail phase to Agadir
26 October 2026

Morocco has outlined a second rail investment cycle for 2030-35, which includes beginning construction of a high-speed rail extension from Marrakech to Agadir and connecting Essaouira to the national rail network.

The pipeline forms part of the government’s 2026-31 programme, presented to parliament last week.

The Marrakech-Agadir link is estimated to cost close to MD55bn ($5.5bn) and will cover a 240-kilometre (km) route through the High Atlas Mountains via Chichaoua. Civil engineering structures, including tunnels and viaducts, are expected to account for nearly 70% of the alignment.

In September, the government issued a decree declaring the Marrakech-Agadir and Chichaoua-Essaouira rail corridors to be of public utility, paving the way for land acquisition and expropriation procedures.

Under the long-term masterplan Plan Rail Maroc 2040, Essaouira is expected to connect to the network via a separate line branching off at Chichaoua, designed for operating speeds of up to 200km an hour. The mainline to Agadir is designed for speeds of up to 320km/h.

The 2030-35 cycle also includes rehabilitating the Casablanca-Khouribga-Oued Zem line; constructing a new line between Oued Zem and Beni Mellal via Bejaad, with a branch to Fquih Ben Salah; doubling and upgrading the 140km Benguerir-Safi line; expanding capacity on the Fez-Oujda corridor; and building new-generation passenger stations.

The plans follow Morocco’s ongoing MD134bn ($13.4bn) 2024-30 rail investment programme, which focuses on completing the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed line ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup.

The programme also includes developing regional express network services across five regions, electrifying the Fez-Oujda line and completing a freight rail link to the Nador West Med port.

Work on the Kenitra-Marrakech line had reached about 30% by May 2026, with commercial services targeted to begin in September 2029.

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Riyadh tenders King Salman Stadium works

26 October 2026

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Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ministry has tendered a contract covering early works at King Salman International Stadium in Riyadh.

The scope includes enabling works, site preparation and initial construction activities.

The tender was issued on 11 October, with a submission deadline of 19 November.

The stadium will cover about 660,000 square metres (sq m) and seat 92,000. Facilities will include a 150-seat royal suite, 120 hospitality suites, 300 VIP seats and 2,200 dignitary seats.

The wider development will include sports facilities covering more than 360,000 sq m, including two training fields and fan zones; a closed sports hall; an Olympic-sized swimming pool; an athletics track; and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball and padel.

The stadium is set to host the final of the 2034 Fifa World Cup and will serve as the Saudi national football team’s main base.

US-based architectural firm Populous is the lead architect for the stadium.

Construction of the stadium is expected to be completed by 2029.

The stadium will be located next to King Abdulaziz Park.

Firms submitted prequalification statements for the main design-and-build contract in February.

Saudi stadium plans

In August 2024, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia planned to build 11 new stadiums and refurbish four facilities for the 2034 Fifa World Cup.

Eight stadiums will be located in Riyadh, four in Jeddah and one each in Al-Khobar, Abha and Neom.

A further 10 cities will host training bases: Al-Baha, Jazan, Taif, Medina, Alula, Umluj, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Ahsa and Buraidah.

There are expected to be 134 training sites in the kingdom, including 61 existing facilities and 73 new venues.

Saudi Arabia was officially selected to host the 2034 Fifa World Cup during an online convention of Fifa member associations at the Fifa Congress on 11 December 2024.

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