Egypt has completed 90% of the planned natural gas delivery works for the first phase of the “Decent Life” (Haya Karima) presidential initiative, Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi announced on Tuesday. The update came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in the New Administrative Capital to review ministry operations. The government is accelerating the remaining projects to meet the established schedule.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in the New Administrative Capital on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi reported that Egypt has finished 90% of the natural gas connection works planned for the first phase of the “Decent Life” initiative, aimed at rural development.
Badawi emphasized that the government is speeding up the remaining projects to adhere to the timeline. He also updated on a memorandum of understanding signed between Egypt and Lebanon at the Lebanese Cabinet, focused on supplying natural gas to the Deir Ammar power station for electricity generation. According to Badawi, the deal supports Egypt's goal of becoming a regional natural gas trade hub through importing and re-exporting.
The MoU includes transferring Egyptian technical expertise in gas exploration, extraction, transport, and distribution for industrial, domestic, and power uses. Joint working groups have been established between the petroleum and energy ministries of both nations to coordinate this knowledge transfer.
Domestically, the minister reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to gas delivery schedules for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, alongside ongoing safety awareness campaigns and regular network monitoring to protect the public.
To enhance national production, Badawi highlighted several agreements signed with leading international companies. The ministry is accelerating efforts to develop untapped gas discoveries and integrate them into production, using modern technologies to optimize output from existing fields.
The meeting also covered the ministry's community development efforts, including the Western Desert Petroleum Company’s (WEPCO) renovation of Sidi Abdel Rahman Language School in Matrouh Governorate, which recently earned the international “EDGE” certificate for green buildings.