Kuwait Energy Company said on Sunday it struck oil in a field in Egypt's Western Desert. The privately held company said in a statement the find in East Ras Qattara field was its seventh in Egypt and fourth in that field.

The new well produced up to 1,600 barrels per day in a short-term production test, the company said.

'We believe there are more opportunities to be explored in Egypt as we work closely with the Egyptian government and our partners,' Kuwait Energy's chief executive, Sara Akbar, said in the statement.

The company has a 49.5 per cent working interest in East Ras Qattara, which it acquired in March 2008.-Reuters