Eni's huge Zohr gas development is a game-changer for Egypt because it will help meet both surging demand for power in North Africa’s most populous nation and help revive the country’s ailing liquefied natural gas export industry.

The Italian major has opted to tap Zohr in phases, partly to stagger capital spending at a time when preserving cash is important to oil companies, but also because Eni struck a deal with the government guaranteeing that gas from Zohr would reach the domestic market this year, curtailing expensive imports.

Eni