Egypt awards $6.5m exploration deal to UK’s Terra Petroleum

The agreement was signed by Salah Abdel Karim, executive chairman of the Egyptian General Petroleum Authority, and Ayman Fouzi, CEO of Terra Petroleum in Egypt. Facebook/Egyptian Cabinet Presidency
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Updated 23 December 2025
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Egypt awards $6.5m exploration deal to UK’s Terra Petroleum

RIYADH: The Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. has signed a $6.5 million oil and gas exploration agreement with UK-based Terra Petroleum, marking the company’s first operations in Egypt. 

The agreement aims to drill three wells in the Northwestern El Moghra concession area of the Western Desert, in addition to conducting 2D and 3D seismic surveys, according to a statement. 

The deal aligns with Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources’ strategy to boost exploration and production. 

It also follows Egypt’s signing of three oil and gas agreements worth more than $121 million with international firms in September, aimed at strengthening the energy sector through new exploration and drilling projects across key hydrocarbon zones 

A Facebook post on the official Egyptian Cabinet Presidency page stated: “Following the signing of the agreement, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi welcomed the leaders of Terra Petroleum and stressed that this step reflects the confidence of international companies in the investment climate of the Egyptian petroleum sector, given its stability and continuous development.” 

It added: “The Ministry is working to provide all aspects of support to serious companies and to provide a stimulating investment environment that contributes to accelerating exploration and production activities and increasing production rates.” 

In August 2024, Egypt uncovered a significant new oil deposit in the Western Desert, which officials said could substantially boost the country’s energy production. 
The discovery, made at the West Fewebs-1 well in the Kalabsha Development Area, revealed a substantial reserve of high-quality oil. 

The find highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to tap its energy potential, particularly in the Western Desert, a region long recognized for its oil and gas prospects. 

According to a statement issued at the time, Badawi emphasized the importance of the discovery, noting that the well had already shown promising results. 

During the same month, Egypt unveiled a new set of incentives aimed at stimulating exploration and development, increasing output, and reducing the gap between domestic supply and demand. 

More than 60 international companies currently operate across 183 exploration and production sites in the Mediterranean Sea, Nile Delta, and Western and Eastern Deserts, as well as Sinai and Upper Egypt, under the oversight of companies affiliated with the Ministry of Petroleum. 


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.