Cairo: Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi discussed with a delegation from TotalEnergies investment opportunities in deepwater areas of the western Mediterranean, particularly in the Herodotus Basin.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the Ministry of Petroleum released a statement on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, indicating that TotalEnergies expressed interest in the promising opportunities in the area. The region's significant exploration potential could help boost natural gas production, and the discussions included the possibility of implementing an intensive exploration and prospecting program.

Badawi emphasized that expanding exploration activities and offering more opportunities to international companies is a key pillar of the ministry's strategy to increase gas output. This approach aligns with the targets of the ministry's five-year plan. He noted that seismic survey projects in new areas have helped unlock promising investment opportunities.

Furthermore, Badawi mentioned that the ministry is adopting new incentive-based models for investment in oil and gas exploration in frontier areas, such as the western Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the southern Western Desert. These models aim to enhance competitiveness and attract global investments.

Both parties agreed to sign a framework cooperation agreement between the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and TotalEnergies in the near future.