Oman awarded an exploration and production (E&P) contract to Eni, Zawya reports.

The Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) is for Block 52, an offshore block south of Oman.

Oman awarded Eni an 85% interest in the block, retaining 15%. Eni immediately announced that it, in turn, was awarding a 30% stake in the block to Qatar Petroleum, according to Zawya.

“The signing of the Block 52 EPSA represents an important milestone in Eni’s strategy to reinforce its presence in the Middle East region,” Zawya quotes the CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, as saying.

Earlier this week, Tethys Oil Company announced it had won an E&P contract for Block 49 in western Oman.