US refiners have operated at higher-than-normal rates in 2026 as tight global supplies of refined fuels, particularly diesel, have boosted profit margins, Reuters reported on October 22, citing data by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Egypt’s oil and gas sector highlighted the role of natural gas, advanced production technologies, and regional cooperation in boosting industrial growth and maximizing economic returns at the Mediterranean Offshore Conference and Exhibition (MOC 2026), according to a statement by the petroleum ministry on October 22.
Asia is required to invest as much as $1 tn annually in energy over the next 15 years to strengthen energy security, as countries reassess their reliance on imported fuels following disruptions caused by the Iran war, Reuters reported on October 22, citing a report by US-based consultancy McKinsey.
Kuwait has raised oil production to more than 2 million barrels per day (mmbbl/d) after output fell to nearly zero at the height of the Iran war, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah said in an interview with Bloomberg on October 22.
Egypt’s Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said each additional gigawatt of renewable energy capacity saves about $250 mn in gas imports, as the government seeks to reduce energy costs and strengthen public finances, according to a cabinet statement on October 22.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said during the Egypt Forum 2026 that rising oil prices to $110 per barrel leave the government with three options: passing the higher costs on to citizens, absorbing them through the state budget, or to maintain the budget’s existing allocations and purchase petroleum products at higher prices within available resources, according to a Cabinet statement issued during the Egypt 2026 Forum.
Senior petroleum officials outlined plans to boost domestic output, reinforce energy security, attract investment, and maximize natural gas value at the Mediterranean Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (MOC 2026). Global and local executives highlighted Egypt’s potential as a regional energy hub, citing advanced infrastructure, strategic location, and opportunities in oil, gas, and petrochemicals. At a session on “Gas in Transition, Salah Abdel Kerim, CEO of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), detailed efforts to make Egypt’s petroleum industry more investor‑friendly, raise production, and narrow the supply gap. He said the government is modernizing operations, easing procedures, and offering incentives to keep pace with global changes and draw international partners with strong capital and technology.
US-based Apache, US-based Chevron, UAE-based Dragon Oil, French TotalEnergies, Malaysian Petronas, and French-founded global energy technology company SLB highlighted opportunities to expand oil and gas investments in Egypt, citing improved investment terms, the settlement of outstanding payments to international partners, and the potential to leverage existing infrastructure to develop gas resources and increase production.