Egypt offers auction of oil and gas exploration concessions

Dec. 31, 2013

On Dec. 30, Egypt’s General Petroleum Corp. and Natural Gas Holding Co. announced an international auction for 22 concessions for oil and gas exploration in accordance with production-sharing agreements.

Offshore staff

CAIRO –On Dec. 30,the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. and Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Co. announced an international auction for 22 concessions for oil and gas exploration in accordance with production-sharing agreements.

The concessions are for areas in the Suez Canal, Egypt’s Western Desert, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Nile Delta. The auction will end on May 19.

According to industry estimates, Egypt pays offshore gas producers, on average, $2-$3 per million British thermal units. Comparable payments for gas in Britain are above $10 and, for Asian supply, above $17. To spur new investments in the region, Egyptian officials have suggested that pricing arrangements be changed to reflect the high costs of offshore exploration in deep water.

12/31/2013