Licensing Rounds History
Cyprus has conducted three competitive offshore licensing rounds (2007, 2012, 2016), complemented by direct awards of Block 7 in 2019 and Block 5 in 2021 — 11 blocks awarded in total to international oil companies. This page documents each round's results and key outcomes.
Round-by-Round Results
First Licensing Round
1 block awarded
The first licensing round (11 blocks offered; Blocks 3 and 13 were excluded) launched Cyprus offshore exploration. Only Block 12 was awarded, to Noble Energy (now Chevron), leading to the Aphrodite discovery in 2011.
Blocks Awarded
Resulting Discoveries
Second Licensing Round
5 blocks awarded
Twelve blocks were offered (all except Block 12). The ENI/KOGAS consortium won Blocks 2, 3 and 9 (signed January 2013); Total won Blocks 10 and 11 (signed February 2013) but relinquished Block 10 in 2015. Eni later farmed into Block 11 (50%, 2017).
Blocks Awarded
Third Licensing Round
3 blocks awarded
Major round (contracts signed April 2017) that brought ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy to Cyprus. Block 8 went to Eni alone (TotalEnergies farmed in 40% in 2019); Block 10 later yielded the Glaucus and Pegasus discoveries.
Blocks Awarded
Resulting Discoveries
Direct Awards
2 blocks awarded
Blocks 7 and 5 were awarded through direct negotiation rather than a competitive round: Block 7 to TotalEnergies and Eni in 2019, and Block 5 to ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy in 2021, expanding both consortia’s positions in the Cyprus EEZ.
Blocks Awarded
Updated July 2026 · Sources: MECI, Hydrocarbons Service
Future Licensing Rounds
Blocks 1, 4, and 13 have never been licensed, and Blocks 2, 3, and 9 became available again in January 2025 when the Eni/KOGAS exploration licenses lapsed without renewal and KOGAS exited Cyprus. ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy have expressed interest in Block 4 and a newly designated area referred to as "10A" adjacent to Block 10, with seismic reprocessing as a first step. Energy Minister Michael Damianos has indicated a new licensing round is expected within roughly two years.
Key Takeaways
- Eni holds interests in 4 blocks — operator of Blocks 6 and 8, partner in Blocks 7 and 11 — after relinquishing Blocks 2, 3, and 9 in January 2025
- The Third Round (2016) was most successful — 5 of Cyprus's 6 gas fields (Calypso, Glaucus, Cronos, Zeus, Pegasus) were found on its acreage
- Major IOCs (ExxonMobil, Chevron, TotalEnergies, ENI) all hold Cyprus licenses
- Consortiums are common, spreading risk in deepwater exploration