Cairo launches oil and gas licensing round for Upper Egypt

25 March 2008
State-owned Ganoub el-Wadi Petroleum Company (Ganope) has launched an oil and gas licensing round covering acreage in the south of the country.

The round covers 12 blocks, in the Gulf of Sinai, the Red Sea and the eastern and western deserts.

Interested companies can purchase data on the blocks from 1 April. Bids are expected by mid-July.

Mohamed Ezat Sakr, vice-chairman for exploration and production at Ganope, told MEED in early March that a bid round would be launched by the end of the month (MEED 14:3:08).

Ganope plans a further four licensing rounds for the period 2009-2012, Sakr told MEED.

Table: Bid round acreage

Block numberBlock nameArea (square kilometres)
1Ras Benas7,077
2North Mersa Alam10,000
3South Quseir8,287
4South Sinai2,600
5South Gulf of Suez108
6West Wadi Dib506
7S. Wadi El Sahl657
8S. Wadi Mahareeth11,427
9Wadi Mahreeth9,316
10Qaret El Dahab4,660
11El Ghazaliyat7,137
12Darb El Arbaien6,160
Source: Ganope

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