Italian oil and gas major Eni said that production from South West Meleiha Development Lease, located in the Egyptian Western Desert, some 130 Km North of the oasis of Siwa, has started.

The current production, delivered through two oil producer wells, is around 5,000 barrel of oil per day (BOPD) and is expected to reach 7.000 BOPD within September 2019.

The oil is transported and treated at the Meleiha Plant facilities operated by AGIBA, a company equally hold by IEOC and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC).

South West Meleiha oil discoveries have been made in 2018, while other exploration wells are now planned to be drilled on the nearby prospects within the exploration area.

Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, holds a 50 per cent interest in South West Meleiha while EGPC holds the remaining 50 per cent. AGIBA is the operator.