Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum Launches Bidding Round for Oil, Gas Exploration in 23 New Blocks

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows light around the site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows light around the site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
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Egypt's Ministry of Petroleum Launches Bidding Round for Oil, Gas Exploration in 23 New Blocks

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows light around the site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows light around the site of the Iconic Tower skyscraper in the Central Business District (CBD) in the New Administrative Capital (NAC) east of Cairo, Egypt August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

Egypt's Petroleum Ministry launched an international bidding round for exploration in 23 open blocks, with the offer deadline set for Feb. 25, marking a significant expansion in the nation's energy sector.  

According to a press release acquired by Asharq Al-Awsat, the round includes ten areas in Egypt's Western Desert, two in the Eastern Desert, seven in the Gulf of Suez, and four in the Red Sea.  

Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has sought to position itself as a regional energy hub.  

Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla stated that the new bid includes new areas for exploration and research, employing the latest digital tools and methods.  

It provides a highly advanced marketing window for available petroleum opportunities.  

The new bid considers the diversity of sectors offered in all petroleum regions, said Molla, noting that it introduces a new offering in the Red Sea areas.  

The Red Sea witnessed advanced seismic surveys, resulting in valuable geological data processed according to advanced global standards.  

Egypt continues its efforts to increase its production of petroleum resources and boost the planned investments, enriching the production process and geological databases for petroleum production regions, according to Molla.  

Meanwhile, the ministry announced Monday that the General Petroleum Company added an estimated reserve of approximately 38.3 million barrels of oil equivalent during the fiscal year ending in June.  

A separate press statement noted that the company achieved its highest-ever production rate during the 2022-2023 fiscal year, registering approximately 74,000 barrels per day of oil equivalent.  

The statement also highlighted the Minister's directive during the general assembly of the Cooperation and Egypt Petroleum Companies, urging expansion in providing refueling services for aircraft and ships.  

Additionally, he emphasized the importance of expanding the production of mineral oils and specialized products, including high-quality chemicals and industrial detergents. 



Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

 A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

 A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Severe wildfire seasons are increasingly hurting western Canada's lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late-summer months due to concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.

After a scorching start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now ablaze across British Columbia and Alberta, including a huge fire that this week devastated the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.

Dozens of communities, including popular holiday spots in British Columbia's Kootenay region, are under evacuation orders and several highways are closed.

This year's surge in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst-ever year for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of British Columbia's wine region.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry was seeing a lot more last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.

"It's a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region," said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to avoid interior British Columbia altogether.

The members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% drop in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the hotter Okanagan and Cariboo regions, said Joss Penny, who heads the association.

"The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have it every year now," said Penny.

Although wildfires in Canada's forests are natural and common, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fueled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent blazes.

'SMOKEY SKIES'

Some events, like the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been rescheduled to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoke season. The festival, which was cancelled last year due to nearby wildfires, was this year moved to July to benefit from "less smokey skies."

Wildfires and extreme climatic events are prompting tourists to "change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently," said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta, noting that seasonal workers in the sector are often the hardest hit as they have few protections during a bad season or amid a cataclysmic fire.

Tourism contributed C$7.2 billion to the British Columbia economy in 2022, and C$9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.

Jasper National Park is one of Canada's premier tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and elk.

Kelly Torrens, vice-president of product at international tour company Kensington Tours, described western Canada as a bucket-list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to pass through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire hit.

Parks Canada has cancelled all camping reservations within Jasper National Park until Aug. 6 and with potentially 50% of the town's structures destroyed by fire, the cleanup and rebuild could take years.

Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.

"I've booked a campsite stay in the mountain parks but at the same time, I booked a campsite out on the prairie somewhere and that's my backup plan because I don't want to miss out on my vacation with my family."