Egypt Adds 4 blocks, Extends its Mediterranean Sea Gas Tender 2 Months

Egypt is stepping up efforts to increase domestic production.

According to Reuters, Cairo said on Tuesday that it extended its tender for natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea by two months with the addition of four new blocks.

On Saturday, Daily News Egypt wrote that Royal Dutch Shell and US-headquartered Apache are working on shale formations in the Apollonia field in the Western Desert. The article says that gas production should start in eight months, but doubts remain as drilling operations did not start yet. 

Last week, BP increased its stake in the West Nile Delta (WND) project in Egypt, buying 17.75% of in the ongoing Phase 1 from DEA.