Ganoub el-Wadi Petroleum Company (Ganope)has launched its first oil and gas licensing round of 2005. International companies have been given until 18 July to submit bids for four exploration blocks in the southern Gulf of Suez, the Eastern Desert and the Western Desert. Ganope is offering 25-year production sharing agreements following any hydrocarbon discoveries. Only one concession was awarded in Ganope's previous bid round. In February, London-based Burren Energysigned up for the 242-square-kilometre North Hurghada Marine block in the southern Gulf of Suez.