Egypt Launches 2026 International Bid Round for Oil and Gas Exploration Across 14 New Blocks
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Eng. Karim Badawi, has officially announced the launch of the 2026 international bid round for crude oil and natural gas exploration. The new tender offers 14 new blocks to both global and domestic energy companies.
This strategic move is designed to attract further foreign and domestic investments necessary to bolster local production and meet the output growth targets outlined in the sector's five-year plan.
Bid Round Details and Deadlines
The 14 exploration blocks are divided between the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), covering key highly prospective regions across the country.
The following table details the distribution of the blocks and their respective submission deadlines:
Managing EntityNumber of BlocksTarget RegionsSubmission Deadline (Cairo Time)
EGAS (Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company)8 BlocksMediterranean Sea, Nile Delta, and North SinaiDecember 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM
EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation)6 BlocksGulf of Suez, Sinai, and the Western DesertNovember 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM
(Note: Interested international and Egyptian companies must submit their technical and commercial bids prior to the specified deadlines for each respective entity).