Hitch; Life inside egyptian oil field

2020- 2023

The oil and gas sector is one of the most important and lucrative industries in Egypt, However the workers who operate and maintain the oil fields face harsh working conditions, low wages, and lack of social and medical protection. A hitch is a documentation of the daily life activities and struggles in one of Egypt’s oldest oil fields. 

“ I have not been home for 4 months, I work for 20 days with the contractor and the 10 days I work with another company so I can help with the preparation of my sisters wedding” said Mahmoud Saadallah who studies arabic literature before starting to work in Balayeim oil field. Mahmoud and many others join the oil and gas industry dreaming of a good paid job to face the truth of the industry in Egypt in the first few months. 

Egypt has been producing oil since 1910, the oil and gas sector employs about 300,000 people, mostly in the upstream activities of exploration, production, and field services. The workers in the Egyptian oil fields face many hazards and difficulties in their work environment. They have to work long hours, often in remote locations, with limited access to basic services and amenities. They are exposed to high temperatures, dust, noise, dangerous chemicals, and flammable materials. Despite these challenges, the workers in the Egyptian oil fields have little or no voice or representation in their industry. They are mostly hired as temporary or casual workers, without contracts or benefits. They have no unions or associations to defend their rights or interests. They have limited access to education, training, or career development opportunities.

This project sheds the light on the inside world of the Egyptian oil industry exploring the socioeconomic scene in Egyptian society