The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has approved that the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) grants Eni the Zohr Development Lease, which allows for the development of the gas field located in the Shorouk Concession, offshore Egypt.

The development plan envisages the start of production by the end of 2017, just two years after the discovery, with a progressive ramp up until reaching a volume of about 75 million standard cubic meters of gas per day (equivalent to approximately 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day) by 2019, Eni wrote.

The realization of the project will be possible through cooperation with Petroject, Enppi and Saipem contractors.

The discovery of Zohr was announced on August 30, 2015 following the drilling of the Zohr-1 well which occurred within the Shorouk Concession Agreement, in which IEOC is the sole operator.

Currently in the drilling phase is Zohr-2, the first appraisal well of Zohr discovery.