According to local press reports of 30 July 2019 the Minister of Energy declared that the Council of Ministers approved on 29 July 2019 a deal between Total and Eni for the acquisition by the French major of an undisclosed stake in the Eni-operated Block 2, 3, 9 and 8. Until now Eni held Block 2, 3 and 9 along with South Korean KOGAS and Block 8 on its own. The Eni-Total consortium has plans for a five-well drilling program offshore Cyprus starting in late 2019 and was awarded Block 7 on 29 July 2019 (see separate articles).  Total expressed interests in acquiring stakes in Block 8 and in Blocks 2, 3 and 9 back in 2018. The French and Italian majors are already equal partners in Block 11 - operated by Total - and in Block 6 - operated by Eni â where the group made the Calypso 1 discovery in early 2018.
The council of ministers has reportedly approved the award of southwestern deepwater block 7 to Total (op) + Eni. The 4,555-sq km block contract will run 3+2+2 years + 25 prod. Meanwhile a Total deal with Eni to farmin to the latterâs offshore blocks 2, 3, 9 + 8 has also been approved. Kogas already partners Eni in blocks 2, 3 + 9.