Egypt’s petroleum minister Karim Badawi met TotalEnergies executive Julien Pouget at MOC 2026 in Alexandria to review the connection of Cyprus’s Cronos gas field to Egyptian infrastructure and opportunities for additional Mediterranean exploration. The ministry published its account on 21 October. The discussions brought together the minister and TotalEnergies’ president for Middle East and North Africa exploration and production. Leila El Hares, the company’s executive director for Egypt, Lebanon and Cyprus, also attended. The ministry described the Cronos connection as a cooperative undertaking involving Egypt’s petroleum sector, Eni and TotalEnergies. Badawi said Egypt wanted to accelerate implementation and make fuller use of its infrastructure and natural gas resources. The meeting reviewed progress on the connection project rather than announcing that gas had started flowing. It also covered possible investment in upstream activity in Egypt’s Mediterranean waters. According to the minister, support from the Egyptian and Cypriot leadership had helped coordination among the parties and created conditions for overcoming implementation challenges. The account presented government-company partnerships as an important factor in moving the cross-border development forward. Pouget said TotalEnergies continued to assess exploration opportunities with Egyptian technical teams and identify areas offering significant gas potential. The ministry said reliable data and detailed technical studies would underpin investment decisions. Its statement did not disclose a new investment commitment, contract value, transport capacity or a first-gas deadline. The announcement therefore establishes the subjects and direction of the talks, but not a completed development decision or an operating connection. Nexus analysis The commercial test is whether technical coordination produces binding investment and transport arrangements. Political support is relevant, but the release provides no basis for booking new gas volumes or revenues.
- Egypt Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
Egypt and TotalEnergies review Cronos gas connection and Mediterranean exploration
Last verified 22 Oct 2026Verified
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