Cairo: Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Karim Badawi, engaged in discussions with Pascal Breant, the Managing Director of TotalEnergies in Egypt and Cyprus, to review the company's planned expansion of gas exploration activities. The focus is on the deep Herodotus Basin located in the western Mediterranean.According to State Information Service Egypt, the Ministry of Petroleum released a statement indicating that the minister welcomed TotalEnergies' plans to increase its investments in natural gas exploration. The statement highlighted the attractive opportunities the Egyptian petroleum sector offers to strategic partners, with natural gas being a central element of the ministry's strategy to enhance domestic production.Badawi identified the Mediterranean region as a priority for future exploration efforts, opening new possibilities for cooperation with major international energy companies. He also pointed to Egypt's robust infrastructure, significant expertise, and promising resource potential in the petroleum and gas sector.The minister reiterated the government's dedication to fostering a favorable investment environment and encouraging partners to expedite project implementation. Breant, on his part, praised the ministry's support for international collaborations, recognizing Egypt as a strategic market for TotalEnergies. He confirmed the company's intention to solidify its presence and investment in natural gas exploration, particularly in the Mediterranean area due to its promising prospects.Both parties concurred on the importance of accelerating ongoing discussions and maintaining technical coordination to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) soon and initiate joint exploration projects.