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Egypt Signs 12 Deals for Gas, Oil Exploration in Mediterranean, Red Sea

A gas field in Egypt. (Reuters)
A gas field in Egypt. (Reuters)
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Egypt Signs 12 Deals for Gas, Oil Exploration in Mediterranean, Red Sea

A gas field in Egypt. (Reuters)
A gas field in Egypt. (Reuters)

Egypt has signed nine new agreements, valued at more than $1 billion, with six local and international companies for exploration of oil and natural gas, announced Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

The ministry said in a press statement that the companies will drill 17 wells in the eastern and western Mediterranean Sea and regional water of the Red Sea.

The nine deals were concluded with Exxon Mobil Corporation, Chevron Corporation, South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company, and Total along with its partners: Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), Shell, and Tharwa.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Tarek al-Molla announced that the nine deals are part of 12 new agreements that the ministry has concluded since March 2020 for drilling 23 wells, nine of them offshore the Mediterranean and three in the Red Sea.

The remaining agreements will be completed during the coming period.

Molla explained that the ministry’s new strategy to promote investment opportunities helped attract new international investments in oil and gas exploration and conclude new partnerships with giant and major companies in the global petroleum industry.

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Spain Gives Green Light for Saudi STC to Raise Stake in Telefonica to 9.97%

STC said it aimed to build up an interest of 9.9% in the Spanish telecoms company worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.53 billion) and become a major shareholder - File Photo
STC said it aimed to build up an interest of 9.9% in the Spanish telecoms company worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.53 billion) and become a major shareholder - File Photo
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Spain Gives Green Light for Saudi STC to Raise Stake in Telefonica to 9.97%

STC said it aimed to build up an interest of 9.9% in the Spanish telecoms company worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.53 billion) and become a major shareholder - File Photo
STC said it aimed to build up an interest of 9.9% in the Spanish telecoms company worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.53 billion) and become a major shareholder - File Photo

The Spanish government has given the green light to Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator, STC Group, to raise its stake in Telefonica beyond 5% and reach 9.97%, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Thursday.

Cuerpo confirmed an earlier report by El Pais newspaper during a news conference following the cabinet's weekly meeting in which the stake increase was approved, Reuters reported.

"Measures and conditions have been set and accepted voluntarily by the Saudi company to ensure that (the operation) takes place," Cuerpo told reporters.

He said the government's decision followed an "exhaustive analysis based not only on compliance with current legislation but also to guarantee the national interest in defense and ensure the strategic element in telecommunications".

Last year, STC said it aimed to build up an interest of 9.9% in the Spanish telecoms company worth around 2.4 billion euros ($2.53 billion) and become a major shareholder.

The Saudi group said at the time it owned a 4.9% stake in Telefonica and financial instruments giving it another 5% in what it called economic exposure to the company.

The Spanish government had to authorize the deal as Telefonica is considered a defence service provider and therefore a strategic company.

The Saudi company has said it does not intend to gain control of or a majority stake in Telefonica.