The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has awarded five concessions in the Western Desert for exploration and production to US Apache, APEX International Energy, and Royal Dutch Shell, an official at EGPC told Egypt Oil & Gas.

The Egyptian Cabinet and Parliament approved the contracts; however, the official announcement and final signing ceremony is yet to be made.

EGPC had announced the international tender in 2016 to explore for oil and natural gas in concession areas in the Gulf of Suez and Western Desert.