Egypt: Oil exploration cut-off delayed

EGYPT had extended a deadline for companies to bid for 10 oil exploration concessions to May 31 from March 31, state-owned Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) said yesterday. Egypt wants to attract more international firms to explore for oil and gas to help the country to cope with its worst energy crisis in decades. Ganope had extended the closing date for its international bid round 2014 (10 blocks) for two months, it said. “This extension was requested by the companies interested in the concessions, in order for them to make a more thorough evaluation of the blocks available,” Mohamed Salah, the vice-chairman of Ganope for agreements and exploration.