For blocks south of the island of Cyprus, the government of the Republic of Cyprus invited all interested parties to apply for hydrocarbon exploration licenses and subsequent hydrocarbon exploitation licenses for acreage in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus.

Applications may be submitted within 90 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, which was Feb. 11.  Only applications reaching the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism within the 90 days will be considered.

Blocks 1-11 and 13 are being offered in this round. 

License applications shall be submitted to: The Hon. Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, 1421 Nicosia, Cyprus.

The criteria for granting licenses are: (a) the technical and financial ability of the applicants; (b) the ways in which the applicant intends to carry out the activities that are specified in the license; (c) the financial consideration that the applicant is offering in order to obtain the license; and (d) any lack of efficiency and responsibility that the applicant has shown under any previous license or authorization of any form in any country of the world.

Decisions regarding the second licensing round offshore Cyprus will be made by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, which should take place within six months from the date of submission of applications.

Detailed guidance notes and any further information concerning the submission of applications may be requested by contacting the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, 1421 Nicosia, Cyprus,  by telephone at +357 22867144, fax at +357 22374445, or email. 

A model exploration and production sharing contract will be made available to interested entities upon request addressed to the office of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, 1421 Nicosia, Cyprus,  by telephone at +357 22867111, fax at +357 22375323, or email.