ROME: Italian energy group Eni said it had discovered the largest known gas field in the Mediterranean off the Egyptian coast, predicting the find could help meet Egypt’s gas needs for decades to come.
The offshore “Zohr” field could hold 30 trillion cubic feet (849 billion cubic meters) of gas, covering an area of about 100 square kilometers, according to a statement from the Italian firm. If the estimates are correct, the Zohr gas field would be significantly larger than Israel’s biggest field Leviathan, which is approximately 621 b.cu.m.
Zohr is the largest gas discovery ever made in Egypt and in the Mediterranean Sea and could become one of the world’s largest natural-gas finds,” the statement from Eni said, adding that the company had full concession rights to the area.
The find follows other significant gas discoveries in the Mediterranean in recent years, including in Israel. This is expected to have a major impact on the region’s economy and potentially offer Europe new supply options, allowing it to lessen its dependence on Russian gas imports.
In response to Eni’s announcement, National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Minister Yuval Steinitz stressed the need to urgently approve Israel’s natural gas compromise outline, to end the freeze that has overtaken the sector at home.
