Licensing Rounds

1st Licensing Round
The Republic of Cyprus, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, announced on the 4th of May 2007 in the Official Journal of the European Union, the inauguration of the 1st Licensing Round Offshore Cyprus. The available Blocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus were Blocks 1, 2 and 4-12. As a result of the 1st Licensing Round, one Hydrocarbon Exploration License was granted according to the Law 4(Ι)/2007:

• Block 12: Noble Energy International Ltd on 24 October 2008 (now the license is held by the consortium Chevron Cyprus Limited / NewMed Energy Limited Parthnership / BG Cyprus Limited)

2nd Licensing Round
The Republic of Cyprus, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, announced on the 11th of February 2012 in the Official Journal of the European Union, the inauguration of the 2nd Licensing Round Offshore Cyprus. The available Blocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus were Blocks 1-11 and 13. As a result of the 2nd Licensing Round, five Hydrocarbon Exploration Licenses were granted according to the Law 4(Ι)/2007:

• Blocks 2, 3 and 9: ΕΝΙ Cyprus Limited and KOGAS Cyprus Limited on 24 January 2013 (now the licenses are held by the consortium Eni Cyprus Limited / Kogas Cyprus Limited / TotalEnergies EP Cyprus B.V.)
• Blocks 10 and 11: TOTAL E&P Cyprus B.V. on 6 February 2013 (the licensee relinquished the area of Block 10 in 2015)

3rd Licensing Round
The Republic of Cyprus, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, announced on the 24th of March 2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union, the inauguration of the 3rd Licensing Round Offshore Cyprus. The available Blocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus were Blocks 6, 8 and 10. As a result of the 3rd Licensing Round, three Hydrocarbon Exploration Licenses were granted according to the Law 4(Ι)/2007:

• Block 6: Eni Cyprus Limited and Total E&P Cyprus B.V. on 6 April 2017 (now the licenses are held by the consortium Eni Cyprus Limited / TotalEnergies EP Cyprus B.V.)
• Block 8: Eni Cyprus Limited on 6 April 2017 (now the license is held by the consortium Eni Cyprus Limited / TotalEnergies EP Cyprus B.V.)
• Block 10: ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited and Qatar Petroleum International Upstream O.P.C. on 5 April 2017 (now the license is held by the consortium ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited /QatarEnergy International E&P LLC)

Licensing of Block 7
In October 2018, the Council of Ministers, pursuant to Article 5(6) of the Hydrocarbons (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Laws of 2007 to 2015, decided to initiate the process to grant an Exploration License for the Exploration Block 7 in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus. As a result of the licensing process, one Hydrocarbon Exploration License was granted:

• Block 7: Total E&P Cyprus B.V. and Eni Cyprus Limited on 18 September 2019 (now the license is held by the consortium TotalEnergies EP Cyprus B.V. / Eni Cyprus Limited)

Licensing of Block 5
In June 2021, the Council of Ministers, pursuant to Article 5(6) of the Hydrocarbons (Prospection, Exploration and Exploitation) Laws of 2007 to 2015, decided to initiate the process to grant an Exploration License for the Exploration Block 5 in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus. As a result of the licensing process, one Hydrocarbon Exploration License was granted:

• Block 5: ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited and Qatar Petroleum International Upstream O.P.C. on 10 December 2021 (now the license is held by the consortium ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Cyprus (Offshore) Limited / QatarEnergy International E&P LLC)