The government will issue a gold E&P tender in seven concession areas in the Eastern Desert in 2017, Oil Minister Tarek El Molla told Amwal Al Ghad. The ministry had previously announced in November 2016 that it would be issuing its first gold exploration tender since 2009. Additionally, GANOPE will begin a USD 750 project to survey Red Sea land and offshore areas to promote exploration there this year, he added. Centamin, the country’s largest gold producer, had announced it would not be participating in the tender, citing “unfair terms,” and has reallocated its funds to operations in Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.

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