Cairo: Egypt has officially launched its 2026 international bid round for crude oil and natural gas exploration, offering 14 new areas to both international and Egyptian companies. This strategic move, announced by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi, is aimed at attracting significant investments crucial for supporting domestic production and achieving the nation's ambitious five-year plan to boost output.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the announcement was made during a meeting between Minister Badawi and the leaders of international companies currently operating as investment partners in Egypt. The meeting focused on evaluating current production and exploration performance, discussing future exploration and development plans, and highlighting new investment opportunities.

The bid round, which commenced on August 11, features eight areas offered by the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) located in the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile Delta, and North Sinai. Bids for these areas are due by December 14, 2026, at noon Cairo time.

Additionally, six areas are being offered by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) in the Gulf of Suez, Sinai, and the Western Desert, with a submission deadline of November 11, 2026, at noon Cairo time. All areas are available through the Egypt Upstream Gateway at eug.petroleum.gov.eg under a production-sharing agreement system, promoting a transparent and competitive bidding process. This includes providing technical data, addressing investor inquiries, and conducting thorough technical and financial evaluations.