QatarEnergy has managed to gain a notable entry in Egypt’s promising offshore oil & gas sector through a strategic purchase that enhances QatarEnergy’s foothold in the Mediterranean region. It seems that QatarEnergy, this Qatar-based state-controlled oil & gas giant, is not done yet as it continues to add new international oil & gas exploratory projects to its roster, in response to a mounting demand in the international community for conventional natural gas resources.
Strategic partnership with Eni strengthens Mediterranean gas activities
QatarEnergy acquired a 40% Participating Interest in the North Rafah Exploration Block in a farm-in agreement with the Italian Energy Company, Eni. This collaboration enables the Qatari company to jointly explore the promising offshore areas in the Mediterranean Region in exchange for shared costs of exploratory activities. This agreement enables Eni to continue with its vast experience in Mediterranean explorations, with a total of 60% in this particular asset.
The North Rafah block spans a total area of 3,000 square kilometers, with water depths of as much as 450 meters in the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. QatarEnergy’s involvement in this project is already approved by the Egyptian government, making this the second Egyptian asset in recent months that this firm has acquired. There are no financial details released in the farm-out agreement, but analysts consider that significant capital outlays will be involved in this project.
Aspiring Exploration Approach Focuses on Gas-Rich Regions of Africa
QatarEnergy’s Egyptian portfolio of concessions now comprises a total of six offshore concessions in partnership with giant international oil companies like Eni, Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil. It recently acquired a 27% interest in the North Cleopatra block in a promising Mediterranean exploratory project in partnership with Shell, Chevron, and Tharwa Petroleum.
What propels QatarEnergy’s swift move into new markets is a strategy that covers gas-rich areas in Africa as well as the Mediterranean. Since involving itself in the Venus gas discovery in Namibia in the Orange Basin in 2022, QatarEnergy has moved faster in buying new interests in countries such as Algeria, Congo, and South Africa, signifying a consistent strategy across various continents.
QatarEnergy’s African purchases in 2025 include:
- 24% participation in Block 3B/4B in Orange Basin offshore South Africa with TotalEnergies
- 35.25% interest in Block 2913B near the Venus discovery in Namibia
- Exploration rights over the Algerian onshore Ahara Block acquired in June
- 35% interest in Congo’s Nzombo offshore block won in September
Regional gas discoveries spur more exploration activity
A new gas province in the Eastern Mediterranean has been identified through major discoveries such as Egypt’s Zohr gas field in the Mediterranean and the Israeli Leviathan project. QatarEnergy’s involvement in Egyptian territorial waters allows the firm to exploit any gas discoveries in a proven gas region. It is observed that a large, undisclosed gas resource lies beneath the Mediterranean sea floor due to the geology of this region.
“We are pleased with our new position in the North Rafah offshore block, which further enhances our presence in Egypt and constitutes another important step in the implementation of our aggressive international exploration strategy,” stated Saad Al Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy’s President & CEO.
The North Rafah purchase is a reflection of QatarEnergy’s confidence in Egypt’s offshore sector as well as a move to ensure QatarEnergy’s foothold across the international arena. It is a reflection of Qatar’s strategy of diversifying its oil investments across promising exploration frontiers across the globe.
QatarEnergy’s Egyptian venture is a well-invested bet on the continued ascendency of the Eastern Mediterranean as a significant gas-producing region. Through QatarEnergy’s collaboration agreement with well-established gas producers in the Egyptian Mediterranean environment, including Eni, QatarEnergy gains valuable exploration experience in this new region. This collaboration will help QatarEnergy benefit from risk sharing in a variety of promising blocs located in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters.