This investigation was supported by the Journalismfund Europe
Gas flaring is the third-largest source of local pollution in Egypt. It refers to the burning of methane gas released at oil sites during exploration or refining processes. When burned, methane is converted into carbon dioxide, which further contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, this process squanders a valuable natural resource that could otherwise be utilized for energy generation.
In 2020, satellite data from the GGFR revealed that Egypt ranked 13th among the world’s largest gas-flaring nations, as reported by the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum. Capturing over two billion cubic meters of flared gas could supply five percent of Egypt’s national energy needs. In response, the ministry established a committee dedicated to monitoring gas flaring and promoting reduction initiatives in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Additionally, the ministry has developed a comprehensive methodology for measuring, reporting, and verifying gas flaring, as well as enhancing reduction projects.
This investigation is part of a series within the cross-border project #BurningSkies, which explores gas flaring—commonly referred to as flaring. The project is led by the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC), in partnership with the Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF) and several media platforms, including Daraj.
The project examines gas flaring emissions in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The project team integrated gas flaring emission data from Skytruth with maps of oil and gas concessions and permits to calculate annual emissions from flaring at each site—whether oil fields, gas fields, refineries, or liquefied natural gas plants—in several countries, including Egypt, from 2012 to 2022.
The project’s data reveals that the total flaring volume in Egypt decreased from approximately 3.5 billion cubic meters in 2012 to around 3.1 billion cubic meters in 2022, marking an 11.43% decline. Consequently, carbon dioxide emissions dropped from 9 million tons in 2012 to 8 million tons in 2022, reflecting a reduction of about 11.11%. Notably, flaring peaked in early 2016, reaching 4.2 billion cubic meters.
According to data from the World Bank, the average volume of gas flared in Egypt was 2.7 billion cubic meters in 2012. This figure increased to 2.8 billion cubic meters between 2014 and 2016, before declining to 2.0 billion cubic meters in 2022. While the intensity of flaring remained relatively stable during this time, it has shown a consistent decline since 2020.
The latest flaring census conducted in 2022 identified 146 individual flaring sites across Egypt. In 2017, the Egyptian government embraced the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative and has also committed to the Global Methane Pledge.
Satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that Egypt consistently ranked among the top 20 gas-flaring nations globally between 2007 and 2011, with total flared gas volumes estimated at around 8.1 billion cubic meters. A research paper by scholars from Erasmus University in the Netherlands and Tennessee University in the United States, published in the ScienceDirect journal, highlighted that gas flaring leads to annual revenue losses estimated at around USD 4.2 billion.
The same study suggested that flaring could be eliminated by capturing gas by-products at certain refineries and repurposing them for energy generation. However, the feasibility of flare gas recovery projects in many countries, including Egypt, is hindered by high development costs, limited funding, and energy subsidies. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) could be instrumental in overcoming these challenges, particularly in developing countries like Egypt, where ongoing power outages have fueled widespread public frustration.
In April 2023, the Ministry of Petroleum announced 12 projects within companies such as Khalda, Agiba, Petrobel, Badr El Din, Petrosannan, Borg El Arab, Zeitco, Gamsa, Norpico, Petroshahd, Petrosilah, and Cairo Oil Refining Company to capitalize on flare gas as part of the flare gas recovery project. The initiative has resulted in annual savings of around EGP 2.8 billion by utilizing recovered flare gas for operations as a diesel alternative. Egypt joined the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions in the oil and gas sector in 2022.
Profits First
The European Union’s standards for flare gas utilization are regarded as the best in terms of both environmental protection and energy generation. However, these standards are only enforced within Europe, with each country outside the continent following its own set of regulations.
Salah Hafez, engineer and former Vice Chairman of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), told Daraj that “flare gas acts as a release for the high underground pressure created during oil exploration. During exploration, there is often some amount of gas or oil without any gas, which is rare. Some types of oil turn into condensates under pressure, forming light oil. When extracted, it is accompanied by gas, and both are extracted together.”
Hafez further explained that there are several types of gasses, including methane, propane, ethane, and pentane. The heavier the gasses, the more valuable they are for various uses. Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, while the other gasses, such as propane and butane, are often used for cooking gas and can even be exported after compression.
The former Vice Chairman of the EGPC also emphasized that “gasses such as carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides are harmful when released into the atmosphere, which is why they are separated and then burned. He noted that many Arab countries have continued burning flare gas for years. However, Egypt was the first to capitalize on flare gas through World Bank funding. One notable project involved financing the transport of gas associated with oil exploration from East Suez Bay to West Suez Bay, which resulted in the production of cooking gas and other by-products.”
Hafez explained that foreign oil companies operate under a production-sharing agreement, which outlines how the gas should be utilized on-site. The agreement specifies whether the gas will be used to power generators or for energy production in field operations, with any surplus being flared. If oil production exceeds gas levels, the gas is fully utilized to prevent flaring and maximize its benefits.
Hafez further explained that the gas released during exploration, particularly carbon dioxide, is separated and burned. If not burned, methane is released, which has a significantly greater impact on global warming than carbon dioxide. He noted that, in line with global commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union has introduced new standards aimed at achieving zero flaring emissions. Egypt began adopting a similar approach about ten years ago, seeking to reduce emissions and utilize flare gas. However, these projects are carefully evaluated within production-sharing agreements to ensure they do not conflict with investors’ interests. In some cases, utilizing flare gas can be costly for both parties, making the agreement financially unviable, as the revenue may not cover the expenses, leading to the gas being left unused.
Hafez, who was involved in drafting Egypt’s Environmental Law, mentioned that he had proposed a clause to utilize flare gas instead of burning it at extraction or refining sites. However, the implementation of this clause depends on the specifics of each petroleum agreement and its financial viability.
He pointed out that “current figures for flare gas burning are likely lower than in previous years due to the natural depletion of resources. As revenues decline, costs tend to rise.”
Project data indicates that the following fields recorded the highest flaring volumes from 2012 to 2022:
West Meleiha:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 5.59 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 14.4 million tons
Kalabsha – West Kalabsha:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 2.25 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 5.8 million tons
LNG Plant in Idku:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.59 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 4.1 million tons
Ethydco Plant:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.44 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 3.7 million tons
Shuqair:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.44 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 3.7 million tons
Alam al-Shawish-6, Egypt:
Total Flaring Volume: Approximately 1.032 billion cubic meters
CO₂ Emissions: 2.66 million tons
Abu Madi Field
The first onshore gas field in the Nile Delta, Abu Madi, was discovered in 1967 by the Belayim Petroleum Company. Located in Belqas, Dakahlia, in the northern part of the Nile Delta, Abu Madi is about 180 kilometers north of Cairo and approximately 8 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. The Abu Madi reservoir is situated at depths ranging between 3,000 and 3,400 meters below sea level, with production occurring from two gas-bearing levels, the second and third.
The Egyptian Nile Delta covers an area of approximately 60,000 square kilometers and forms part of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. Around two-thirds of Egypt’s gas production comes from various fields in the delta. The Nile Delta is home to significant gas reserves, with discoveries representing nearly 82 percent of Egypt’s total gas findings, totalling an estimated reserve of 58 trillion cubic feet, according to a research study published in Nature.
According to project data, the Abu Madi field burned about 0.7 billion cubic meters of gas between 2012 and 2022, resulting in around 1.9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
The area includes several facilities, most notably a massive landfill, the Qelabsho solid waste landfill, and the Belqas waste recycling plant, which was established by the Dakahlia Governorate in 2021 on an area of 50 acres.
Salah (a pseudonym), a resident of Moussa Al-Arab village, which is part of Belqas, and located near the Abu Madi field, described the area as a mass of pollutants. These include two red-brick factories, a large mountain of accumulated garbage built up over the years, and the Abu Madi oil field. Salah mentioned that he sometimes detects a pungent gas odor. Leaving the home he spent nearly 20 years building for his family, alongside his work in the same area, feels like a nightmare to him. His children, too, have grown weary of the persistent smells emanating from the surroundings.
It is worth noting that the field visit to the Abu Madi site coincided with an announcement from the Dakahlia Governorate regarding a potential gas odor spreading along the Belqas-Sharbin road, attributed to odor filling at a pressure reduction station.
Salah expressed his frustration with the environmental pollution, stating, “We don’t have a proper landfill or safe way to dispose of agricultural wastewater.” He is considering leaving his home to rent a house in New Damietta in search of clean air, as both he and his children are fed up with the persistent odors.
Repeated complaints have gone unanswered, as Salah explained. When there was some action regarding the landfill opposite the Daqahlia Sugar & Refining Company, only a portion of the garbage piles was covered with white lime, which was observed during the field tour of the area.
Hassan (a pseudonym), a resident near the Abu Madi field, described the surrounding agricultural lands as scorched, as if watered with acid, locally known as “fire water – aqua fortis.” He noted that the extreme heat in the area severely damages most crops. According to Hassan, the affected crops include watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cantaloupe, all of which suffer from the intense heat.
Moatasem (a pseudonym), who lives about 500 meters from the Abu Madi field, believes that the waste dump and emissions from the sugar factory are the primary causes of respiratory illnesses in the area, especially among children and the elderly. He stressed that the environmental problems in the region are unrelated to the Abu Madi oil field, noting that some of his relatives work there, which leads him to dismiss any claims that the field is causing issues. Although the field has been in operation for many years, he noted an increase in premature births and fetal deformities in recent years, which was not common before.
Moatasem believes his village is unfairly treated due to the numerous pollution sources in the area, with the garbage piles and emissions from the sugar factory being the worst offenders: “The village residents have submitted many complaints to the governor and parliamentary members about the pollution, but the situation remains unchanged. Additionally, healthcare is nearly non-existent; the local health unit is often closed and lacks both medicine and medical staff, while the hospital in the Balqas center is severely under-resourced. For urgent medical needs, residents must travel to Mansoura or New Damietta, with pharmacies frequently serving as their closest option for treatment.”
Moatasem continued discussing the Abu Madi field, expressing his hope that the petroleum site would employ local labor, especially the village’s youth. He mentioned that beyond job opportunities, he has no expectations for the site’s management to offer any community services to improve the quality of life in the area. He also highlighted the poor condition of the road leading to the site, which he believes is the state’s responsibility to repair, describing the situation as part of a persistent pattern of neglect.
“I’m from Abu Madi. My land and life are in direct confrontation with the field,” said Hamdi (a pseudonym), echoing previous remarks about the Dakahlia Sugar Factory, which he believes to be the area’s biggest polluter. He added that the worst suffering occurs between February and late July each year. “The gas plant doesn’t harm us much. The real issue lies with the landfill. However, since many locals benefit from the petroleum site and work there, we refrain from speaking about its downsides out of concern for protecting each other’s interests.”
Hamdi went on to highlight the high rates of respiratory allergies in his village, once again directing criticism toward the waste sanitary landfill.
His conversation was abruptly interrupted by thick smoke that turned the whites of the locals’ eyes red. The black fumes emanated from a nearby red-brick factory. Hamdi remarked, “We look out for one another here, but I think the smoke comes from garbage that ignites on its own, mostly plastic waste. As for the agricultural lands, our biggest issue is the water. We all drink and irrigate using agricultural wastewater that’s almost the color of mango juice.”
After spending two hours in the area, the investigator began feeling suffocated and started coughing, much to the amusement of those nearby. One of them commented that this is a common reaction from visitors who can’t tolerate the strong odors in the air, which overwhelm both the nose and chest. The locals, however, seem to have grown accustomed to it. When asked about the health conditions of residents living near the Abu Madi field, one attendee declined to elaborate, simply stating, “Common illnesses, like in any other area.” Upon further questioning about respiratory issues, he admitted that most children and the elderly suffer from respiratory allergies, and the problem even affects newborns. He also mentioned premature births and miscarriages, a concern echoed by the five other speakers.
Desouk Gas Well
Spanning over eight and a half acres in a village in Desouk, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, lies the Desouk gas well, one of several wells in the Sidi Salem area, which form part of the largest natural gas fields in the Nile Delta, northern Egypt. The well is operated by the Suez Oil Company (SUCO) in partnership with RWE Dea. Notably, this field marked the first project managed by the Spanish company Dea, which is now run by Wintershall Dea. It encompasses the development of seven gas fields across the Nile Delta.
Hajj Mustafa, a man in his seventies struggling to stay awake, is one of the residents of Riyadh district, where the Desouk field is located. He said that he resorts to sleep to forget his pain. Tears welled up as he recalled his daughter, Shorouk, an engineer who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. After contracting the disease, she suffered severe respiratory issues and didn’t last long before passing away. Mustafa, a philosophy teacher for nearly 40 years, now spends his time working with his siblings in the used car trade. He mentioned that respiratory diseases are widespread in the village, with the pandemic claiming many lives amid the doctors’ inability to manage the situation.
Salah Mohamed, a resident of the Riyadh district near the gas well site, guided Daraj on a tour of the area. According to Salah, the primary issue “isn’t the gas well but the Delta Sugar Company’s factory. The factory emits harmful pollutants and produces a suffocating burning smell during its operational months from February to July.” He noted that wind patterns exacerbate the spread of the odor but emphasized that there have been no complaints regarding the Desouk gas well site.
Despite the generally unpaved roads in the area, the road leading to the Desouk gas well is the only paved one. The well is surrounded by agricultural lands and a few small houses, along with buses transporting workers to the petroleum site. In a small house facing the well, a local resident mentioned the water shortage issue and the difficulty of accessing clean water. When asked if she had any complaints about the gas well, she responded negatively, saying she had never smelled any gas since operations began. She did, however, state that kidney diseases, likely due to water pollution, are prevalent in the area, along with poor medical services. The local medical center has been under construction for six years, while a private hospital, which started being built afterward, is now fully operational.
According to Salah Mohamed, a resident of the Riyadh district, “only a few locals work at the Desouk gas well.” He noted that the site comprises multiple wells spread across various agricultural lands in the region, which are leased through agreements with landowners. He added that there have been no complaints regarding these arrangements.
Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate is known for rice cultivation, but this has been restricted by reducing the rice planting area due to water shortages. Based on the field tour and local sources around the Desouk gas well, most of the surrounding land is now planted with cotton. According to experts including Dr. Gamal Siam, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the National Research Center, cotton is the only agricultural product that can withstand the continuous rise in temperatures and is less affected by climate change.
Another notable observation during the field tour was the prevalence of mud-brick ovens fueled by rice straw. When asked about the burning of rice straw, locals denied it, and Salah Mohamed explained that the high cost of fuel has led residents to repurpose the straw for oven fires.
The poor healthcare services in the Riyadh district of Kafr El Sheikh, were the main concern among the locals. Rajab Hussein explained: “ most villagers suffer from respiratory diseases, kidney failure, and liver diseases. What frustrates them the most is the lack of response to their complaints. They often use agricultural drainage water for irrigation, which sometimes mixes with sewage water. The local medical center has been under reconstruction since 2018 due to the poor condition of the facility, but progress has been slow. Meanwhile, a nearby private hospital was built in less than a year and is fully operational.”
A visit to the Riyadh health unit revealed a building lacking air conditioning and an entrance ramp for wheelchairs or hospital beds used to transport patients. The unpleasant smell of the place, along with the presence of stray cats, was noticeable. One of the doctors working at the health unit mentioned that the work is done through community efforts and donations. Blood bags, vaccines, and other medical supplies are usually stored in portable refrigeration units purchased with local contributions. The center only provides basic health services.
Health Impact
A research study published in the IOPscience journal reported that more than 500,000 Americans living within three miles of natural gas flares are at risk of harmful health effects, leading to up to 7,500 premature deaths and 410,000 cases of asthma annually. The emissions from gas flaring contribute to the rise in respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and strokes due to exposure to black carbon particles. The studies also indicate a significant link between flaring activities and an increased risk of premature births.
A recent study by researchers from the School of Public Health and the UNC Institute for the Environment at Chapel Hill, along with the Environmental Defense Fund, revealed that pollution from gas venting and flaring has resulted in health damages valued at $7.4 billion annually. The study also linked these emissions to over 700 premature deaths and 73,000 cases of aggravated asthma among children each year. Additionally, the researchers found that emissions are often underreported and that controlling them would not only be profitable for operators but could also lead to significant public health improvements in nearby communities.
The data and evidence presented in this investigation sound the alarm. Gas flaring in Egypt is not just an environmental issue but also a public health and sustainable development concern. The government, energy sector companies, civil society, and the public must work together to develop sustainable solutions to this problem. It is essential to invest in modern technologies that aim to efficiently utilize gas and reduce harmful emissions. In a world striving to transition to a green economy, Egypt stands out as a country with immense potential for leadership in this field. However, the continued practice of gas flaring hinders this transformation. Egypt must draw inspiration from the experiences of other countries that have succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopt ambitious policies to achieve carbon neutrality.
