CAIRO — In conjunction with a report published April 30 by the France-based International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers that stated that Egypt's exports from liquefied natural gas increased by 150% in 2019, Egypt said it was ready to expand the production of natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean, which are the stage of political disputes between Cairo and Ankara.

However, Egypt seems desperate to achieve another increase of its liquefied natural gas exports, in light of the rapid spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The Ministry of Petroleum announced April 21 that gas production has started from two new wells: one in the Zohr field, located in the eastern Mediterranean Shorouk 9 concession block, with a production capacity of about 390 million cubic feet of gas per day; and the second in Baltim South West 7 concession area, with a production capacity of about 140 million cubic feet of gas per day, with the aim to increase Egypt's daily production of gas by 7.4%.

Ahmed Abbas, economic researcher at the Istanbul-based Egyptian Institute for Studies, told Al-Monitor that halting production from new wells to reduce expenses in light of the country's economic crisis caused by the pandemic was a logical step, especially since Egypt had suspended liquefying and exporting natural gas.