The petroleum industry in Egypt has its deep roots as far back as Pharonic era . On the walls of ancient temples, there are illustrations that depict the utilization of oil by the Pharos as a source of fuel for the oil lantern .
	Yet it took until the 19th century for the first geological survey to be applied in Egypt by a French naval officer in the year 1835.
Egypt is one of the pioneer states that paved the way in the different stages of petroleum industry. At 1886, the Egyptian government drilled its first well in a location named Gemsa in the eastern desert . The commercial production of that well began in the year 1910. In 1961, the first offshore petroleum field in Egypt and the Middle East was discovered " Belagim Bahari " . The oldest and biggest petroleum field "Almurgan" was discovered in 1965. It began its production in1967.
The natural gas exploration in Egypt began 1963, the first natural gas discovery was "Abu Quir" field in the Mediterranean sea water 1969. In the same year the first natural gas discovery was made in the Western Desert "Abu Al Gharadig field" . After that, explorations went on all over the country by modern technological methods.
	Egypt was also the first Arab country to acquire the refinery industry. In the year 1911 the first oil refinery in Egypt was established for the Anglo-Egyptian oil wells company "Al Nasr Petroleum Company now) at Suez. It began operation in the year 1913. The year 1922 witnessed the establishment of the governmental oil refinery at Suez that began its production in 1923. According to the policy of spreading refineries geographically and avoiding its centralization only at Suez area , the Cairo Oil Refinery began operation in 1969 and Al Amerya refinery in 1973 .
In May 1971, the first State Minister for Oil and Mineral Resources was appointed, and in March 1973, the first independent oil ministry was established in Egypt. As a result of the glorious October war, Egypt restored Sinai oil fields on the 17th of November 1975. That day was chosen to be the Petroleum Day every year. Oil and Gas exploration extended and widened, and the major international companies competed to work in Egypt. In the year 1976, the Egyptian General Corporation for oil was established.