Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) invited the qualified international petroleum exploration companies to participate in the bid round for seven exploration blocks in Eastern and Western Deserts.

Hany Nassar, vice chairman for Agreements & Exploration, said that his company invited those companies for the first international bid round 2010, aiming to boost its production from its concessions.

Nassar added, in exclusive statements to Egypt Oil & Gas newspaper, that the bid round included three blocks in South Western Desert, adding two blocks in the area of Nile Valley, and the rest in Eastern Desert.

Nassar also added that Vegas Oil & Gas was among the companies that farmed out of its acquisition in the western side of the Eastern Desert.