WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk 

An Egyptian tender to explore natural gas in the Mediterranean was delayed due to lack of a "coordinate" agreement between Israel and Greek Cypriot administration that defined the boundaries of the two countries.

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), former Egyptian Minister of Petroleum, Abdullah Gurab, stated that, while he was the Minister of Petroleum between February 2011 and June 2012, he had constantly brought up the idea of holding a tender for the exploration of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea but that the tender did not take place due to a lack of a "coordinate" agreement between Israel and Greek Cypriot administration that clearly defined the territorial waters.

"Later on, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum obtained information showing the necessary coordinates from related Egyptian officials. 13 tenders, 6 of them in the border regions of Israel and Greek Cypriot administration and 7 of them in Egyptian territorial waters, were opened," Gurab underlined.

"Oil wells at border regions may be mixed up. Egypt must sign agreements with neighboring countries to take under guarantee its rights," Gurab said.

On the other hand, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Osama Kamal said that 13 international companies attended the tender for exploration of natural gas in the Mediterranean in June and that the results would be announced in November.

Egypt signed a contract with BP last week for the exploration of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea.