The city of Idku, which located on the coast, east of Alexandria, was chosen by BP because of its proximity to the offshore field and the fact that the connection between the city and the field would not cross existing pipelines by other companies. By the end of 2011, the project to construct a gas processing plant received approval from the military and from the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) to replace the soil, but not install any equipment.

By the end of 2011, the project was already one year behind schedule because protests emerged among local residents of Idku which opposed the construction of the processing plant. According to Platform London, "Local activists researched BP’s activities elsewhere, gathering evidence of abuses and pollution elsewhere and warning that the company could cause a disastrous spill like it had in the Gulf of Mexico, in the deep waters north of Egypt. Facebook groups were used to share updates within Idku and connect with activists elsewhere" [1].

The local population mainly opposed the project because of their previous negative experience with Rashid and Burullus petroleum companies. In 2006, an EEAA study had found industrial waste dumping activities in the Mediterranean Sea by those two companies to be illegal. The impacts on sea life and agricultural lands were said to have hurt fishermen, farmers and related businesses run by local residents. Moreover, they had complained about not receiving enough benefits for the local community by the companies.

From 2011 onwards, protesters took their anger to the streets, graffiti appeared around the town, banners were draped and popular assemblies in the street gave the local residents space to speak out against BP's project. The protesters also gathered evidence of abuses and pollution elsewhere in order to warn that the construction of the processing plant and its pipeline may cause disastrous consequences and spills such as the one that had recently occurred in the Gulf of Mexico. The main local road was blocked and BP's Idku offices raided as computers were also confiscated.

By December 2011, BP was still awaiting approval by public consultation, despite having received a green light by the Ministry of Environment. The governor of the Beheira Governorate where Idku is located sided with protesters on the issue. In reaction to the protest, BP together with BG and EGAS started to conduct feasibility studies to move the processing plant's location further to the east, complicating the new pipeline route. After 18 months of postponing the construction due to ongoing protest, BP gave in to public pressure and agreed to relocate the construction site of the gas terminal out of Idku further to the east.