Agiba Petroleum, a joint venture between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Italy’s Eni, has actively driven exploration in Egypt’s Western Desert.
Since 2010, the company has focused on "near-field" explorations, unlocking multiple sandstone and limestone reservoirs that produce both crude oil and natural gas.
In August 2025, Agiba discovered North Lotus Deep-, an exploration well contributing around 7 million cubic feet of gas and 1,835 barrels of crude oil per day. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 5 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE).
Agiba also drilled two new wells in the Western Desert in 2026 with 1,650 barrels of crude oil per day and about 19 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Bustan South 1X, is expected to produce an estimated 10 million barrels of oil condensate and crude oil, making up a total of 70 million barrels of oil, as well as several sandstone and limestone reservoirs, with a net productive thickness of 400 feet.
It is also located 10 kilometres from existing facilities and infrastructure, eliminating the need to build them, as well as expediting production time and reducing production costs.
Eni contributes around 40 percent of Egypt’s natural gas production, and is investing around $8 billion into the country over the next five years.
Eni's role in Egypt’s energy sector has been pivotal since it discovered the Zohr gas field in 2015, producing up to 30 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Earlier this year, expansion plans were set for the Zohr gas field and the drilling of two new wells, worth a combined $360 million.
Eni and the EGPC have made several oil discoveries in the country's Western Desert.
The Italian giant has also started operating three drilling rigs in Egypt for Agiba in 2024.
Eni has also made several oil discoveries in the country's Western Desert, the Faramid South well in 2018, producing 25 million standard cubic feet per day, and the B1-X well the same year.
In 2020, the Italian giant made another Western Desert well was discovered, producing 10,000 barrels of oil per day. The following year, in 2021, there were 3 other projects in Egypt’s Western Desert producing a total of about 50 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Most recently, in April 2026, Eni discovered the Denise W 1 exploration well in the Temsah Concession, producing 130,000 barrels of condensate daily.
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