Cairo: Egypt's ministry of petroleum and mineral resources announced the export of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from the Idku LNG complex to Italy. The shipment, carried aboard the tanker New Nature on behalf of Shell, totals 155,000 cubic metres and has departed Idku port for Italy, the ministry said in a statement.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the export is part of a broader strategy to encourage international partners to increase investment in Egypt's domestic gas exploration and production. It also aims to accelerate the development of wells in phases 10 and 11 of the West Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) area in the Mediterranean, boosting gas output for export.