CONCESSION AGREEMENT FOR GAS AND CRUDE OIL

EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION

BETWEEN

THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

AND

THE EGYPTIAN NATURAL GAS HOLDING COMPANY

AND

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AND

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AND

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IN

------------------------- AREA

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A.R.E.

This Agreement made and entered on this ------ day of ------200 , by and between the ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT (hereinafter referred to variously as the "A.R.E." or as the "GOVERNMENT"), the EGYPTIAN NATURAL GAS HOLDING COMPANY, a legal entity created by the Prime Minister Decree No. 1009 of 2001, as amended, and according to Law No. 203 of 1991, as amended (hereinafter referred to as "EGAS"), --------------------------- a -------------- company organized and existing under the laws of ---------------------------- (hereinafter referred to as “---------------”) or CONTRACTOR, ------------------------------------------, a --------------- company organized and existing under the laws of ---------------- (hereinafter referred to as “------------”) and -----------------------,  a ----------------- company organized and existing under the laws of --------------- (hereinafter referred to as “----------”). ---------------, ------------ and -------------- shall be hereinafter referred to collectively as "CONTRACTOR" and individually as “Contractor Member”. 
 

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, all minerals, including Petroleum, existing in mines and quarries in the A.R.E., including its territorial waters, and in the seabed subject to its jurisdiction and extending beyond its territorial waters, are the property of the State;

WHEREAS, EGAS has applied to the GOVERNMENT for an exclusive concession for the Exploration and exploitation of Petroleum in and throughout the Area referred to in Article II, and described in Annex "A" and shown approximately on Annex "B", which are attached hereto and made part hereof; (hereinafter referred to as the "Area");

WHEREAS --------------, ------------ and ------------- agree(s) to undertake their obligations provided hereinafter as CONTRACTOR with respect to the Exploration, Development and production of Petroleum in ------------- AREA, --------------;

WHEREAS, the GOVERNMENT hereby desires to grant such concession pursuant to this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Minister of Petroleum, pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 86 of 1956 as amended, may enter into a concession agreement with EGAS, and with --------, ------- and -------- as a CONTRACTOR in the said Area.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONs

1. “Affiliated Company” means a company:

1. of which the share capital, conferring a majority of votes at stockholders' meetings of such company, is owned directly or indirectly by a party hereto; or
2. which is the owner directly or indirectly of share capital conferring a majority of votes at stockholders' meetings of a party hereto; or
3. of which the share capital conferring a majority of votes at stockholders' meetings of such company and the share capital conferring a majority of votes at stockholders' meetings of a party hereto are owned directly or indirectly by the same company.

2. “Agreement” means this Concession Agreement and its Annexes.

3. “A.R.E.” means the Arab Republic of Egypt.
4. “Barrel” shall consist of forty-two (42) United States gallons, liquid measure, corrected to a temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) at atmospheric pressure of 14.696 PSIA.
5. “Brent Price” means the simple arithmetic average of the monthly average price of the Mid of Platts Prices Dated Brent for six (6) months (t-1, t-2, t-3, t-4, t-5, t-6) immediately preceding the month of delivery of the sold Gas expressed in U.S Dollars/Barrel. “Dated Brent” means the price assessment in US$/bbl (calculated using the average of the mean of the daily highs and lows of Brent quotations) as published in Platts Crude Oil Market wire report.
6. “BTU” (British Thermal Unit) means the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one (1) pound of pure water by one (1) degree Fahrenheit from sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) to sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit (61°F) at a constant pressure of 14.696 PSIA.
7. “Calendar Year” means a period of twelve (12) months from 1^st January to 31^st December according to the Gregorian calendar.
8. “Commercial Gas/Oil Well” means the first well at any geological feature found to be capable to produce at economic rate. The discovery date of the Commercial Well shall be the date EGAS and CONTRACTOR agree upon the evaluation results.
9. “Commercial Production” means Petroleum produced and saved for regular shipment or delivery, as may be applicable for Oil or Gas.
10. “Commercial Production Commencement” means the date on which the first regular shipment of Crude Oil or the first regular deliveries of Gas are made.
11. “CONTRACTOR” could be one or more companies (each company to be individually referred to as a “CONTRACTOR Member”). Unless modified in accordance with Article XXI herein, CONTRACTOR under this Agreement shall mean --------, -------- and ------------.
12. “Development” includes, without limitation, all the operations and activities pursuant to approved Work Programs and budgets under this Agreement with respect to:

1. drilling, plugging, deepening, side tracking, re-drilling, completion and equipping of development wells, and the change of a well status; and
2. design, engineering, construction, installation, servicing and maintenance of equipment, lines, systems facilities, plants and related operations to produce and operate said development wells, taking, saving, treatment, handling, storage, transportation and delivery of Petroleum,
   re-pressuring, recycling and other secondary recovery projects; and
3. transportation, storage and any other work or activities necessary or ancillary to the activities specified
   in (i) and (ii) above.

13. “Development Block” means an area the corner points of which have to be coincident with one (1) minute by one (1) minute latitude and longitude divisions according to the International Coordinates Grid System, where possible, or with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by this Concession Agreement as set out in Annex "A".

14. “Development Lease(s)” means the area that covers one or more Development Block(s) covering the geological structure capable of production, the corner points of which have to be coincident with latitude and longitude divisions according to the International Coordinates Grid System, where possible, or with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by this Concession Agreement as set out in Annex "A".
15. “Effective Date” means the date on which the text of this Agreement is signed by the GOVERNMENT, EGAS and CONTRACTOR, after the relevant Law is issued.
16. “EGPC” means the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, a legal entity created by Law No. 167 of 1958, as amended.
17. “Exploration” includes such geological, geophysical, aerial and other surveys as may be contained in the approved Exploration Work Programs and budgets, and the drilling of shot holes, core holes, stratigraphic tests, holes for the discovery of Petroleum or the appraisal of Petroleum discoveries and other related holes and wells, and the purchase or acquisition of such supplies, materials, services and equipment therefore, all as may be contained in the approved Work Programs and budgets. The verb "explore" means the act of conducting Exploration.
18. “Exploration Block” means an area the corner points of which are coincident with three (3) minutes by three (3) minutes latitude and longitude divisions according to the International Coordinates Grid System, where possible, or with the existing boundaries of the Area covered by this Concession Agreement as set out in Annex "A”.
19. “Financial Year” means the GOVERNMENT’s financial Year according to the laws and regulations of the A.R.E.
20. “Gas” means natural gas both associated and non-associated, and all of its constituent elements produced from any well in the Area (other than Liquid Crude Oil) and all non-hydrocarbon substances therein. Said term shall include residual gas, that gas remaining after removal of LPG.
21. “Gas Sales Agreement” means a written agreement entered into pursuant to Article VII(e) between EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGAS and/or a third party agreed upon by EGAS (as buyers), which contains the terms and conditions for Gas sales from a Development Lease.
22. “Joint Venture Company” is a company to be formed in accordance with Article VI and Annex “D” of this Agreement.
23. “Liquid Crude Oil” or “Crude Oil” or “Oil” means any hydrocarbon produced from the Area which is in a liquid state at the wellhead or lease separators or which is extracted from the Gas or casinghead Gas in a plant. Such liquid state shall exist at sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) and atmospheric pressure of 14.696 PSIA. Such term includes distillate and condensate.
24. “LNG” means Liquefied Natural Gas.
25. “LPG” means liquefied Petroleum Gas, which is a mixture principally of butane and propane liquefied by pressure and temperature.
26. “Operator” means CONTRACTOR (if it is one company) or one of the CONTRACTOR Members (if they are more than one company), as the case may be, appointed by them to be the entity to which, from which and in whose name all notifications related to or in connection with this Concession Agreement shall be made. CONTRACTOR shall notify the name of the Operator to EGAS.

ARTICLE II
ANNEXES TO THE AGREEMENT

Annex “A” is a description of the Area covered and affected by this Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Area".

Annex “B” is a provisional illustrative map on the scale of approximately (1: --- --- ---) indicating the Area covered and affected by this Agreement and described in Annex "A".

Annex “C” is the form of a Bank or Production Letter of Guarantee to be submitted by CONTRACTOR to EGAS one (1) day before the time of signature by the Minister of Petroleum of this Agreement for the sum of ---------------- million U.S. Dollars
($ --- 000 000), to guarantee the execution of CONTRACTOR’s minimum Exploration obligations hereunder for the first ------ (--) Year Exploration period. In case CONTRACTOR extends the first Exploration period for a second Exploration period, of ---- (--) year(s) in accordance with Article III (b) of this Agreement, similar Letter of Guarantee shall be issued and be submitted by CONTRACTOR on the day the CONTRACTOR exercises its option to extend. Such Letter of Guarantee which is related to the second Exploration period shall be for the sum of --------- million U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000), less any excess expenditures incurred in the preceding Exploration period permitted for carry forward in accordance with Article IV (b) third paragraph of this Agreement and approved by EGAS. In case of any shortfall (the difference between the amount of CONTRACTOR's financial obligation of any Exploration period minus [the total amount approved by EGAS for the same concerned obligation period plus any carry forward approved by EGAS from the previous period, if any] ), EGAS shall notify CONTRACTOR in writing by the value of such shortfall. Within fifteen (15) days from the date of this notification, CONTRACTOR shall transfer the amount of the shortfall to EGAS' account and if CONTRACTOR did not transfer this shortfall within the mentioned fifteen (15) days, EGAS has the right to liquidate the concerned letter of Guarantee. Each of the two (2) Letters of Guarantee shall remain effective for six (6) months after the end of the relevant Exploration period for which it has been issued, except as it may be expired prior to that time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Annex “D” is the form of a Charter of the Joint Venture Company to be formed as provided for in Article VI hereof.

Annex “E” is the Accounting Procedure.

Annex “F” is a current map of the National Gas Pipeline Grid System established by the GOVERNMENT. The point of delivery for Gas shall be agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR under a Gas Sales Agreement, which point of delivery shall be located at the flange connecting the Development Lease pipeline to the nearest point on the National Gas Pipeline Grid System as depicted in Annex “F”, or as otherwise agreed by EGAS and CONTRACTOR.

If Gas is disposed of for export, the point of delivery shall be agreed by EGAS and CONTRACTOR.

Annexes "A", "B", "C", "D", "E" and "F" to this Agreement are hereby made part hereof, and they shall be considered as having equal force and effect with the provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III
GRANT OF RIGHTS AND TERM

The GOVERNMENT hereby grants EGAS and CONTRACTOR, subject to the terms, covenants and conditions set out in this Agreement, which insofar as they may be contrary to or inconsistent with any provisions of Law No. 66 of 1953, as amended, shall have the force of law, an exclusive concession in and to the Area described in Annexes "A" and "B".

1. The GOVERNMENT shall own and be entitled to, as hereinafter provided, a royalty in cash or in kind of ten percent (10%) of the total quantity of Petroleum produced and saved from the Area during the Development period (including its extension, if any). Said royalty shall be borne and paid by EGAS and shall not be the obligation of CONTRACTOR. The payment of royalties by EGAS shall not be deemed to result in an income attributable to the CONTRACTOR.
2. A first Exploration period of ----- (---) Year(s) shall start from the Effective Date. One (1) successive extension which is the second Exploration period, of ----- (--) year(s), shall be granted to CONTRACTOR at its option, upon written notice given to EGAS not less than thirty (30) days prior to the end of the first Exploration period, as may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Article V, and subject only to CONTRACTOR having fulfilled its obligations hereunder for that period. This Agreement shall be terminated if neither a Commercial Oil Discovery nor a Commercial Gas Discovery is established by the end of the ----- (--^th) Year of the Exploration period, as may be extended pursuant to Article V. The election by EGAS to undertake a sole risk venture under paragraph (c) below shall neither extend the Exploration period nor affect the termination of this Agreement as to CONTRACTOR.

3. Commercial Discovery:
1. A "Commercial Discovery" whether of Oil or Gas may consist of one (1) producing reservoir or a group of producing reservoirs which is worthy of being developed commercially. After discovery of a Commercial Oil or Gas Well, CONTRACTOR shall, unless otherwise agreed upon with EGAS, undertake as part of its Exploration program the appraisal of the discovery by drilling one (1) or more appraisal wells, to determine whether such discovery is worthy of being developed commercially, taking into consideration the recoverable reserves, production, pipeline and terminal facilities required, estimated Petroleum prices, and all other relevant technical and economic factors.
2. The provisions laid down herein postulate the unity and indivisibility of the concepts of Commercial Discovery and Development Lease. They shall apply uniformly to Oil and Gas, unless otherwise specified.
3. CONTRACTOR shall give notice of a Commercial Discovery to EGAS immediately after the discovery is considered by CONTRACTOR to be worthy of commercial development but in any event, with respect to a Commercial Oil Well, not later than thirty (30) days following the completion of the second appraisal well or twelve (12) months following the date of the discovery of the Commercial Oil Well, whichever is earlier; or with respect to a Commercial Gas Well, not later than twenty four (24) months following the date of the discovery of the Commercial Gas Well (unless EGAS agrees to extend such period); except that CONTRACTOR shall also have the right to give such notice of Commercial Discovery with respect to any reservoir or reservoirs even if the well(s) thereon are not commercial within the definition of Commercial Oil or Gas Well if, in its opinion, a reservoir or a group of reservoirs, considered collectively, could be worthy of commercial development.

   CONTRACTOR may also give a notice of a Commercial Oil Discovery in the event it wishes to undertake a Gas recycling project.

   A notice of Commercial Gas Discovery shall contain all detailed particulars of the discovery, and especially the Area containing recoverable reserves, the estimated production potential and profile , field life, Gas analysis, the required pipeline and production facilities, estimated Petroleum prices, and all other relevant technical and economic factors (unless otherwise agreed upon by EGAS).

   Within sixty (60) days from receipt of a notice of a Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall start meeting and reviewing together all appropriate data with a view to mutually agree upon the existence of a Commercial Discovery as soon as possible. The date of Commercial Discovery shall be the date EGAS and CONTRACTOR jointly agree in writing that a Commercial Discovery does exist.

4. If Crude Oil or Gas is discovered but is not deemed by CONTRACTOR to be a Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery under the above provisions of this paragraph (c), EGAS shall one (1) month after the expiration of the period specified above within which CONTRACTOR can give notice of a Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery, or thirteen (13) months after the completion of a well not considered to be a Commercial Oil Well or twenty five (25) months after the completion of a well not considered to be a Commercial Gas Well, have the right, following sixty (60) days written notice to CONTRACTOR, at its sole cost, risk and expense, to develop, produce and dispose of all Crude Oil or Gas from the geological feature on which the well has been drilled. Said notice shall state the specific area covering said geological feature to be developed, the wells to be drilled, the production facilities to be installed and EGAS' estimated cost thereof. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of said notice CONTRACTOR may, in writing, elect to develop such area as hereunder provided for in the case of Commercial Discovery. In such event all terms of this Agreement shall continue to apply to the specified area.

   If CONTRACTOR elects not to develop such area, the specific area covering said geological feature shall be set aside for sole risk operations by EGAS, such area to be mutually agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR on the basis of good petroleum industry practice. EGAS shall be entitled to perform or, in the event the Joint Venture Company has come into existence, to have the Joint Venture Company perform such operations for the account of EGAS and at EGAS' sole cost, risk and expense. When EGAS has recovered from the Petroleum produced from such specific area a quantity of Petroleum equal in value to three hundred percent (300%) of the cost it has incurred in carrying out the sole risk operations, CONTRACTOR shall have the option, only in the event that there has been a separate Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery, elsewhere within the Area, to share in further Development and production of that specific area upon paying EGAS one hundred percent (100%) of such costs incurred by EGAS.

   Such one hundred percent (100%) payment shall not be recovered by CONTRACTOR. Immediately following such payment, the specific area shall either (i) revert to the status of an ordinary Development Lease under this Agreement and thereafter shall be operated in accordance with the terms hereof; or (ii) alternatively, in the event that at such time EGAS or its Affiliated Company is conducting Development operations in the area at its sole expense and EGAS elects to continue operating, the area shall remain set aside and CONTRACTOR shall only be entitled to its production sharing percentages of the Crude Oil or Gas as specified in Article VII(b). The sole risk Crude Oil or Gas shall be valued in the manner provided for in Article VII(c). In the event of any termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Article III(b), this Agreement shall, however, continue to apply to EGAS' operation of any sole risk venture hereunder, although this Agreement shall have been terminated with respect to CONTRACTOR pursuant to the provisions of Article III(b).
   

4. Conversion to a Development Lease:

1. Following a Commercial Discovery of Oil or Gas, the extent of the whole area capable of production to be covered by a Development Lease shall be mutually agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR and be subject to the approval of the Minister of Petroleum. Such area shall then be converted automatically into a Development Lease without the issue of any additional legal instrument or permission.
2. Following the conversion of an area into a Development Lease based on a Commercial Gas Discovery (or upon the discovery of Gas in a Development Lease granted following a Commercial Oil Discovery), EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall endeavor with diligence to find adequate markets capable of absorbing the production of Gas. With respect to the local market EGAS shall advise CONTRACTOR if EGAS requires such Gas for the local market, and the expected annual schedule of demand for such Gas. Thereafter, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall meet with a view to assessing whether the outlets for such Gas and other relevant factors warrant the Development and production of the Gas and, in case of agreement, the Gas thus made available shall be disposed of to EGAS under a long-term Gas Sales Agreement in accordance with and subject to the conditions set forth in Article VII.
3. The Development period of each Development Lease shall be as follows:

aa.	In respect of a Commercial Oil Discovery, twenty (20) Years from the date of such Commercial Oil Discovery plus the Extension Period (as defined below); provided that, if after the conversion of a Commercial Oil Discovery into a Development Lease, Gas is discovered in the same Development Lease and is used or is capable of being used locally or for export hereunder, the period of the Development Lease shall be extended only with respect to such Gas, LPG extracted from such Gas and Crude Oil in the form of condensate produced with such Gas for twenty (20) Years from the date of first deliveries of quantities of Gas locally or for export plus the Extension Period (as defined below); provided that the duration of such Development Lease based on a Commercial Oil Discovery shall not be extended beyond thirty five (35) Years from the date of such Commercial Oil Discovery. CONTRACTOR shall immediately notify EGAS of any Gas discovery but shall not be required to apply for a new Development Lease in respect of such Gas.
bb.	In respect of a Commercial Gas Discovery, twenty (20) Years from the date of first deliveries of Gas locally or for export plus the Extension Period (as defined below); provided that, if after the conversion of a Commercial Gas Discovery into a Development Lease, Crude Oil is discovered in the same Development Lease, CONTRACTOR's share of such Crude Oil from the Development Lease (except LPG extracted from Gas or Crude Oil in the form of condensate produced with Gas) and Gas associated with such Crude Oil shall revert entirely to EGAS upon the expiry of twenty (20) Years from the date of such Crude Oil Commercial Discovery plus the Extension Period (as defined below). Notwithstanding, anything to the contrary under this Agreement, the duration of a Development Lease based on a Commercial Gas Discovery shall in no case exceed thirty-five (35) Years from the date of such Commercial Gas Discovery. CONTRACTOR shall immediately notify EGAS of any Crude Oil discovery but shall not be required to apply for a new Development Lease in respect of such Crude Oil.
cc.	The notification to EGAS of the discovery of Gas in a Development Lease based on Commercial Oil Discovery, or vice versa; should include all technical information mentioned in Article III(c)(i) and (iii) above.
dd.	The " Extension Period" shall mean a period of five (5) Years which may be elected by CONTRACTOR upon six (6) months prior written request sent by CONTRACTOR to EGAS prior to the expiry of the relevant twenty (20) Year period supplemented by technical studies, including the evaluation of production period, the expected levels of production during the Extension Period, CONTRACTOR’s obligations and relevant economic considerations. The Extension Period is subject to the approval of the Minister of Petroleum.

5. Development operations shall, upon the issuance of a Development Lease granted following a Commercial Oil Discovery, be started promptly by the Joint Venture Company and conducted in accordance with good Petroleum fields’ practices and accepted Petroleum engineering principles, until the field is considered to be fully developed. It is understood that if associated Gas is not utilized, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall negotiate in good faith on the best way to avoid impairing the production in the interests of the parties.

   In the event no Commercial Production of Oil in regular shipments is established from any Development Block in any Development Lease at the end of four (4) Years from the date of the Commercial Oil Discovery, the CONTRACTOR shall immediately relinquish such Development Block, unless it is sharing in production with another Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery in the same Development Lease, a periodical revision shall take place every three (3) years during the same development lease period, in order to relinquish any development block not producing or not contributing to production in the same development lease.

   Upon the issuance of a Development Lease granted following a Commercial Gas Discovery, Development operations in respect of Gas and Crude Oil in the form of condensate or LPG to be produced with or extracted from such Gas shall, upon the signature of a Gas Sales Agreement or commencement of a scheme to dispose of the Gas, whether for export as referred to in Article VII or otherwise, be started promptly by the Joint Venture Company and be conducted in accordance with good gas field practices and accepted Petroleum engineering principles and the provisions of such agreement or scheme.

   In the event no Commercial Production of Gas is established in accordance to the gas delivery date as agreed upon in the Gas Sales Agreement, the Development Lease relating to such Gas shall be relinquished totally within six (6) months from the agreed gas delivery date.

   In the event no Commercial Production of Gas in regular deliveries is established from any Development Block in any Development Lease at the end of four (4) Years from the date of the first Gas deliveries either locally or for export, the CONTRACTOR shall immediately relinquish such Development Block, unless it is sharing in production with another Commercial Oil or Gas Discovery in the same Development Lease, a periodical revision shall take place every three (3) years during the same development lease period, in order to relinquish any development block not producing or not contributing to production in the same development lease.

   Each Development Block in a Development Lease being partly within the radius of drainage of any producing well in such Development Lease shall be considered as participating in the Commercial Production referred to above.

   If, upon application by CONTRACTOR, it is recognized by EGAS that Crude Oil or Gas is being drained from an Exploration Block under this Agreement into a Development Block on an adjoining concession area held by the same CONTRACTOR or another contractor, such Exploration Block being drained shall be considered as participating in the Commercial Production of the Development Block in question and the Exploration Block being drained shall be converted into a Development Lease with the ensuing allocation of costs and production (calculated from the Effective Date or the date such drainage occurs, whichever is later) between the two concession areas. The allocation of such costs and production under each concession agreement shall be in the same portion that the recoverable reserves in the drained geological structure underlying each concession area bears to the total recoverable reserves of such structure underlying both concession areas. The production allocated to a concession area shall be priced according to the concession agreement covering that concession area.

   In case of failure by the CONTRACTOR or the contractor(s) in each concession area to agree on the allocation of costs and /or production for such separate Development Leases under each concession area, such disagreement shall be resolved by expert determination, the expert to be agreed upon by the two concerned CONTRACTOR and contractor(s). EGAS shall have the right to interfere and induce the CONTRACTOR and contractor(s) in each concession area to fully cooperate and resolve the drainage matter in expedient manner as per the expert decision, such that neither contractor shall be unjustifiably enriched. The cost of the expert shall in no event be recovered in both concessions.

6. CONTRACTOR shall bear and pay all the costs and expenses required in carrying out all the operations under this Agreement, but such costs and expenses shall not include any interest on investment. CONTRACTOR shall look only to the Petroleum to which it is entitled under this Agreement to recover such costs and expenses. Such costs and expenses shall be recoverable as provided in Article VII. During the term of this Agreement, the total production achieved in the conduct of such operations shall be divided between EGAS and CONTRACTOR in accordance with the provisions of Article VII.


1. Unless otherwise provided, CONTRACTOR shall be subject to Egyptian income tax laws in A.R.E. and shall comply with the requirements of such laws with respect to the filing of returns, the assessment of tax, and keeping and showing of books and records.
2. CONTRACTOR shall be liable to prepare the income tax return statement. CONTRACTOR shall submit the tax return statement to EGAS at least twenty five (25) days prior to the due date of submitting thereof to the tax authority. EGAS shall have the right to review the tax return statement in order to approve the tax calculation therein. EGAS shall provide comments on such tax return statement within fifteen (15) days of the date of receiving the tax return statement from CONTRACTOR. In any case CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for submitting the tax return statement to the tax authority within the legal due date.
3. CONTRACTOR's annual income for Egyptian income tax in A.R.E. purposes under this Agreement shall be an amount calculated as follows:

   The total of the sums received by CONTRACTOR from the sale or other disposition of all Petroleum acquired by CONTRACTOR pursuant to Article VII(a) and (b);

   Reduced by:

   1. The costs and expenses of CONTRACTOR; and
   2. The value as determined according to Article VII(c), of EGAS' share of the Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum to be paid to EGAS in cash or in kind, if any;

   plus:

   An amount equal to CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income taxes in A.R.E. grossed-up in the manner shown in Article VI of Annex "E".

   For purposes of abovementioned tax deductions in any Tax Year, Article VII(a) shall apply only in respect of classification of costs and expenses and rates of amortization, without regard to the percentage limitation referred to in the first paragraph of Article VII(a)(1). All costs and expenses of CONTRACTOR in conducting the operations under this Agreement which are not controlled by Article VII(a) as above qualified shall be deductible in accordance with the provisions of the Egyptian Income Tax Law.

4. EGAS shall assume, pay and discharge, in the name and on behalf of CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income tax in A.R.E. out of EGAS' share of the Petroleum produced and saved and not used in operations under Article VII. All taxes paid by EGAS in the name and on behalf of CONTRACTOR shall be considered as income to CONTRACTOR.
5. EGAS shall furnish to CONTRACTOR the proper official receipts evidencing the payment of CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income tax in A.R.E. for each Tax Year within ninety (90) days following the receipt by EGAS of CONTRACTOR's income tax return statement for the preceding Tax Year. Such receipts shall be issued by the proper tax authorities and shall state the amount and other particulars that are customary for such receipts.
6. As used herein, Egyptian Income Tax in A.R.E. shall be inclusive of all income taxes payable in the A.R.E. (including tax on tax) such as the tax on income from movable capital and the tax on profits from commerce and industry and inclusive of taxes based on income or profits, including all dividends, withholding with respect to shareholders and other taxes imposed by the GOVERNMENT of A.R.E. on the distribution of income or profits by CONTRACTOR.
7. In calculating its income taxes in A.R.E., EGAS shall be entitled to deduct all royalties paid by EGAS to the GOVERNMENT and CONTRACTOR's Egyptian income taxes paid by EGAS on CONTRACTOR's behalf.
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ARTICLE IV
WORK PROGRAM AND EXPENDITURES DURING EXPLORATION PERIOD



1. CONTRACTOR shall commence Exploration operations hereunder not later than six (6) months from the Effective Date. Not later than the end of the ----------- (--^th) month from the Effective Date, CONTRACTOR shall start Exploration drilling operations in the Area; provided that CONTRACTOR shall acquire -------------- square kilometers (---- km²) of 3D seismic program, acquire ----------- kilometers (--- km) of 2D seismic program, reprocess seismic data, carry out technical studies and drill ------ (---) exploratory well(s) during the first Exploration period. EGAS shall make available for CONTRACTOR's use all seismic, wells and other Exploration data with respect to the Area as EGAS is entitled to do so.
2. The first Exploration period shall be of ------ (---) Year(s). CONTRACTOR may extend this Exploration period for one (1) successive extension which is the second Exploration period of ----- (--) Year(s), in accordance with Article III(b), which upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to EGAS, subject to CONTRACTOR’s fulfillment of its minimum Exploration obligations hereunder for the first Exploration period.

   CONTRACTOR shall spend a minimum of ------------ million U.S. Dollars ($ --- 000 000) on Exploration operations and activities related thereto, during the first Exploration period of ------ (---) Year(s); provided that CONTRACTOR shall acquire -------------- square kilometers (---- km²) of 3D seismic program, acquire ----------- kilometers (--- km) of 2D seismic program, reprocess seismic data, carry out technical studies and drill ------ (---) exploratory well(s). For the second Exploration period of ----- (---) Year that CONTRACTOR elects to extend beyond the first Exploration period, CONTRACTOR shall also spend a minimum of ------- million U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000), provided that CONTRACTOR shall acquire -------------- square kilometers (---- km²) of 3D seismic program, acquire ----------- kilometers (--- km) of 2D seismic program, reprocess seismic data, carry out technical studies and drill ------ (---) exploratory well(s).

   Should CONTRACTOR spend more than the minimum amount required to be expended or drill more wells than the minimum required to be drilled during the first Exploration period of------- (--) Year, or during the second Exploration period thereafter, the excess may be subtracted from the minimum amount of money required to be expended by CONTRACTOR or minimum number of wells required to be drilled by CONTRACTOR during the succeeding Exploration period, if any.

   In case CONTRACTOR surrenders its Exploration rights under this Agreement as set forth above before or at the end of the --- (--^--) Year of the first Exploration period, having expended less than the total sum of ------- million U.S. Dollars ($ --- 000 000) on Exploration operations, or in the event that at the end of the ----- (---^--) Year of the first Exploration period, CONTRACTOR has expended less than said sum in the Area, an amount equal to the difference between the said ----------- million U.S. Dollars ($ --- 000 000) and the amount actually spent on Exploration and approved by EGAS shall be paid by CONTRACTOR to EGAS at the time of surrendering or within six (6) months from the end of the ------ (---^--) Year of the first Exploration period, as the case may be. Any expenditure deficiency by CONTRACTOR at the end of any additional Exploration period for the reasons stated above shall similarly result in a payment by CONTRACTOR to EGAS of such deficiency. Provided that this Agreement is still in force as to CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR shall be entitled to recover any such payments as Exploration expenditure in the manner provided for under Article VII in the event of Commercial Production.

   Without prejudice to Article III(b), in case no Commercial Oil Discovery is established or no notice of Commercial Gas Discovery is given by the end of the ------- (--^--) Year, as may be extended pursuant to Article V, or in case CONTRACTOR surrenders the Area under this Agreement prior to such time, EGAS shall not bear any of the aforesaid expenses spent by CONTRACTOR.
   

3. At least four (4) months prior to the beginning of each Financial Year or at such other times as may mutually be agreed to by EGAS and CONTRACTOR, CONTRACTOR shall prepare an Exploration Work Program and budget for the Area setting forth the Exploration operations which CONTRACTOR proposes to carry out during the ensuing Year.

   The Exploration Work Program and budget shall be reviewed by a joint committee to be established by EGAS and CONTRACTOR after the Effective Date of this Agreement. This committee, hereinafter referred to as the "Exploration Advisory Committee", shall consist of six (6) members, three (3) of whom shall be appointed by EGAS and three (3) by CONTRACTOR. The Chairman of the Exploration Advisory Committee shall be designated by EGAS among the members appointed by it. The Exploration Advisory Committee shall review and give such advice as it deems appropriate with respect to the proposed Exploration Work Program and budget. Following review by the Exploration Advisory Committee, CONTRACTOR shall make such revisions and submit the Exploration Work Program and budget to EGAS for its approval.

   Following such approval, it is further agreed that:

1. CONTRACTOR shall neither substantially revise or modify said Exploration Work Program and budget nor reduce the approved budgeted expenditure without the approval of EGAS;
2. In the event of emergencies involving danger of loss of lives or property or damage to the environment, CONTRACTOR may expend such additional unbudgeted amounts as may be required to alleviate such danger or damage. Such expenditure shall be considered in all aspects as Exploration expenditure and recovered pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof.


4. CONTRACTOR shall advance all necessary funds for all materials, equipment, supplies, personnel administration and operations pursuant to the Exploration Work Program and budget, and EGAS shall not be responsible to bear or repay any of the aforesaid costs.
5. CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for the preparation and performance of the Exploration Work Program and budget which shall be implemented in a workmanlike manner and consistent with good petroleum industry practices.

   All geological and geophysical studies as well as any other studies related to the performance of this Agreement shall be made in the A.R.E., except as is appropriate for the specialized geophysical, geological, engineering and development studies thereon, that may be made in specialized centers outside the A.R.E., subject to EGAS’ approval.

   CONTRACTOR shall entrust the management of Exploration operations in the A.R.E. to its technically competent General Manager and Deputy General Manager. The names of such General Manager and Deputy General Manager shall, upon appointment, be forthwith notified to the GOVERNMENT and to EGAS. The General Manager and, in his absence, the Deputy General Manager shall be entrusted by CONTRACTOR with sufficient powers to carry out immediately all lawful written directions given to them by the GOVERNMENT or its representative under the terms of this Agreement. All lawful regulations issued or hereafter to be issued which are applicable hereunder and not in conflict with this Agreement shall apply to CONTRACTOR.
   

6. CONTRACTOR shall supply EGAS, within thirty (30) days from the end of each calendar quarter, with a Statement of Exploration Activity relating to Exploration operations which has been conducted in any portion of the Area not converted into a Development Lease, showing costs incurred by CONTRACTOR during such quarter. CONTRACTOR's records and necessary supporting documents shall be available for inspection by EGAS at any time during regular working hours for three (3) months from the date of receiving each Statement of Exploration Activity.

   Within the three (3) months from the date of receiving each Statement of Exploration Activity, EGAS shall advise CONTRACTOR in writing if it considers:

1. that the record of costs is not correct; or
2. that the costs of goods or services supplied are not in line with the international market prices for goods or services of similar quality supplied on similar terms prevailing at the time such goods or services were supplied; provided however, that purchases made and services performed within the A.R.E. shall be subject to Article XXVI; or
3. that the condition of the materials furnished by CONTRACTOR does not tally with their prices; or
4. that the costs incurred are not reasonably required for operations.

CONTRACTOR shall confer with EGAS in connection with the problem thus presented, and the parties shall attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement.

Any reimbursement due to EGAS out of the Cost Recovery Petroleum as a result of reaching agreement or as a result of an arbitral award, shall be promptly made in cash to EGAS, plus simple interest at LIBOR plus two and half percent (2.5%) per annum from the date on which the disputed amount(s) would have been paid to EGAS according to Article VII(a)(2) and Annex "E" of this Agreement (i.e., the date of rendition of the relevant Cost Recovery Statement) to the date of payment. The LIBOR rate applicable shall be the average of the figure(s) published by The Financial Times of London representing the mid-point of the rates (bid and ask) applicable to one (1) month U.S. Dollars deposits in the London Inter bank Eurocurrency Market on each fifteenth (15^th) day of each month occurring between the date on which the disputed amount(s) would have been paid to EGAS and the date on which it is settled.

If the LIBOR rate is available on any fifteenth (15^th) day but is not published in The Financial Times in respect of such day for any reason, the LIBOR rate chosen shall be that offered by Citibank N.A. to other leading banks in the London Inter bank Eurocurrency Market for one (1) month U.S. Dollar deposits.

If such fifteenth (15^th) day is not a day on which LIBOR rates are quoted in the London Interbank Eurocurrency Market, the LIBOR rate to be used shall be that quoted on the next following day on which such rates are quoted.

If within the time limit of the three (3) month period provided for in this paragraph, EGAS has not advised CONTRACTOR of its objection to any Statement, such Statement shall be considered as approved.


7. CONTRACTOR shall supply all funds necessary for its operations in the A.R.E. under this Agreement in freely convertible currency from abroad. CONTRACTOR shall have the right to freely purchase Egyptian currency in the amount necessary for its operations in the A.R.E. from EGAS or EGPC or from any bank authorized by the GOVERNMENT to conduct foreign currency exchange. Priority shall be given by CONTRACTOR to purchase the Egyptian currency from EGAS or EGPC, at the discretion of EGAS at the same applicable rate and date as such currency may be purchased from the National Bank of Egypt.


8. EGAS and EGPC are authorized to advance to CONTRACTOR the Egyptian currency required for the operations under this Agreement against receiving from CONTRACTOR an equivalent amount of U.S. Dollars at the official rate of exchange in A.R.E. as specified by the Central Bank of Egypt on the date of exchange, such amount in U.S. Dollars shall be deposited in an EGAS or EGPC account abroad (as the case may be) with a correspondent bank of the National Bank of Egypt, Cairo, A.R.E. Withdrawals from said account shall be used to finance EGAS' or EGPC’s (as the case may be) and their Affiliated Companies' foreign currency requirements, subject to the approval of the Minister of Petroleum.
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ARTICLE V

RELINQUISHMENTS




At the end of the ------ (--^--) Year after the Effective Date hereof, CONTRACTOR shall relinquish to the GOVERNMENT a total of ----------- percent (---%) of the original Area on the Effective Date not then converted into a Development Lease(s). Such relinquishment shall be in a single unit (unless otherwise agreed by EGAS) of whole Exploration Blocks or originally existing parts of Exploration Blocks not converted into Development Lease(s) so as to enable the relinquishment requirements to be precisely fulfilled.

Without prejudice to Articles III and XXIII and the last three paragraphs of this Article V, at the end of the -------- (--^--) Year of the Exploration period, CONTRACTOR shall relinquish the remainder of the Area not then converted into Development Lease(s).

It is understood that at the time of any relinquishment the areas to be converted into Development Lease(s) and which are submitted to the Minister of Petroleum for his approval according to Article III (d) shall, subject to such approval, be deemed converted into Development Lease(s).

CONTRACTOR shall not be required to relinquish any Exploration Block(s) in respect of which a Commercial Oil or Gas Well is discovered before the period of time referred to in Article III(c) given to CONTRACTOR to determine whether such well is a Commercial Discovery worthy of Development or to relinquish an Exploration Block in respect of which a notice of Commercial Gas Discovery has been given to EGAS, subject to EGAS' right to agree on the existence of a Commercial Discovery pursuant to Article III(c), and without prejudice to the requirements of Article III(e).

In the event that at the end of the first Exploration period or at the end of the second Exploration period, a well is actually drilling or testing, CONTRACTOR shall be allowed up to six (6) months to enable it to discover a Commercial Oil or Gas Well or to establish a Commercial Discovery, as the case may be. However, any such extension of up to six (6) months shall reduce the duration of the next succeeding Exploration period, if any, as applicable, by that amount.


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ARTICLE VI
OPERATIONS AFTER COMMERCIAL DISCOVERY



1. On Commercial Discovery, EGAS and CONTRACTOR may form in the A.R.E. a company to carry out operations pursuant to this Article VI and Annex “D” (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Venture Company”), which company shall be named by mutual agreement between EGAS and CONTRACTOR provided that such name shall be subject to the approval of the Minister of Petroleum. Said company shall be a private sector company, subject to the laws and regulations in force in the A.R.E. to the extent that such laws and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or the Charter of the Joint Venture Company (the “Charter”).
   However, the Joint Venture Company and CONTRACTOR shall, for the purpose of this Agreement, be exempted from the following laws and regulations as now or hereafter amended or substituted:
   
   
• Law No. 48 of 1978, promulgating the law on the employee regulations of public sector companies;
• Law No. 159 of 1981, promulgating the law on joint stock companies, partnership limited by shares and limited liability companies;
• Law No. 97 of 1983 promulgating the law concerning public sector organizations and companies;
• Law No. 203 of 1991 promulgating the law on public business sector companies;
• Law No. 95 of 1992 promulgating a capital markets law; and
• Provisions of Chapter 2 of Part 6 of Law No. 88 of 2003 , organizing dealings in foreign currencies in accordance with Central Bank of Egypt and the A.R.E. banking system law.




2. The Charter of Joint Venture Company is hereto attached as Annex "D". Within thirty (30) days after the date of Commercial Oil Discovery or within thirty (30) days after the signature of a Gas Sales Agreement or the commencement of a scheme to dispose of Gas (unless otherwise agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR), the Charter shall take effect and the Joint Venture Company shall automatically come into existence without any further procedures. The Exploration Advisory Committee shall be dissolved upon the final relinquishment of all portions of the Area not converted into Development
   Lease(s).


3. Ninety (90) days after the date the Joint Venture Company comes into existence in accordance with paragraph (b) above, it shall prepare a Work Program and budget for further Exploration and Development in any portion of the Area converted into a Development Lease for the remainder of the Financial Year in which the Commercial Discovery has been made. And not later than four (4) months before the end of the current Financial Year (or such other date as may be agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR) and four (4) months preceding the commencement of each succeeding Financial Year thereafter (or such other date as may be agreed upon by EGAS and CONTRACTOR), the Joint Venture Company shall prepare an annual production schedule and Work Program and budget for further Exploration and Development in any portion of the Area converted into a Development Lease for the succeeding Financial Year. The production schedule, Work Program and budget shall be submitted to the Joint Venture Company’s Board of Directors for approval. The Exploration Work Program and budget for further Exploration in any portion of the Area not converted into a Development Lease shall be reviewed, approved and implemented in accordance with Article IV.


4. Not later than the twentieth (20^th ) day of each month, the Joint Venture Company shall furnish to CONTRACTOR a written estimate of its total cash requirements for expenditure for the first half and the second half of the succeeding month expressed in U.S. Dollars consistent with the approved Work Program and budget. Such estimate shall take into consideration any cash expected to be in hand at month end.
   Payment for the appropriate period of such month shall be made to the correspondent bank designated in paragraph (e) below on the first (1^st) day and fifteenth (15^th) day respectively, or the next following business day, if such day is not a business day.
   
   
5. The Joint Venture Company is authorized to keep at its own disposal abroad in an account opened with a correspondent bank of the National Bank of Egypt, Cairo, A.R.E., the foreign funds advanced by CONTRACTOR. Withdrawals from said account shall be used for the payment for goods and services acquired abroad and for transferring to a local bank in the A.R.E. of the required amount to meet the expenditures in Egyptian Pounds for Joint Venture Company in connection with its activities under this Agreement.
   Within sixty (60) days after the end of each Financial Year, the Joint Venture Company shall submit to the appropriate exchange control authorities in the A.R.E. a statement, duly certified by a recognized firm of auditors, showing the funds credited to that account, the disbursements made out of that account and the outstanding balance at the end of the Financial Year.
   
   
6. If and for as long during the period of production operations there exists an excess capacity in facilities which can not during the period of such excess be used by the Joint Venture Company, EGAS shall have the right to use the excess capacity if it so desires without any financial or operational disadvantage to the CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company.
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ARTICLE VII
RECOVERY OF COSTS AND EXPENSES AND
PRODUCTION SHARING



1. COST RECOVERY:
1. Cost Recovery Petroleum:
   

   Subject to the auditing provisions under this Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall recover quarterly all costs, expenses and expenditures in respect of all the Exploration, Development and related operations under this Agreement to the extent and out of ---------- percent (---%) of all Petroleum produced and saved from all Development Leases within the Area hereunder and not used in Petroleum operations. Such Petroleum is hereinafter referred to as "Cost Recovery Petroleum".

   For the purpose of determining the classification of all costs, expenses and expenditures for their recovery, the following terms shall apply:

   1. “Exploration Expenditures” means all costs and expenses for Exploration and the related portion of indirect expenses and overheads.
   2. “Development Expenditures” means all costs and expenses for Development (with the exception of Operating Expenses) and the related portion of indirect expenses and overheads.
   3. “Operating Expenses” means all costs, expenses and expenditures made after the Commercial Production Commencement, which costs, expenses and expenditures are not normally depreciable.

   However, Operating Expenses shall include work over, repair and maintenance of assets, but shall not include any of the following: sidetracking, re-drilling and change of a well status, replacement of assets or a part of an asset, additions, improvements, renewals or major overhauling that extend the life of the asset.

   Exploration Expenditures, Development Expenditures and Operating Expenses shall be recovered from Cost Recovery Petroleum in the following manner:-

1. “Exploration Expenditures”, including those accumulated prior to the Commercial Production Commencement, shall be recoverable at the rate of -------- percent (---%) per annum starting either in the Tax Year in which such expenditures are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in which the Commercial Production Commencement occurs, whichever is the later date.
2. “Development Expenditures”, including those accumulated prior to the Commercial Production Commencement, shall be recoverable at the rate of -------- percent (---%) per annum starting either in the Tax Year in which such expenditures are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in which the Commercial Production Commencement occurs, whichever is the later date.
3. “Operating Expenses”, incurred and paid after the Commercial Production Commencement, shall be recoverable either in the Tax Year in which such costs and expenses are incurred and paid or the Tax Year in which the Commercial Production Commencement occurs, whichever is the later date.
4. To the extent that, in a Tax Year, costs, expenses or expenditures recoverable per preceding paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii), exceed the value of all Cost Recovery Petroleum for such Tax Year, the excess shall be carried forward for recovery in the next succeeding Tax Year(s) until fully recovered, but in no case after the termination of this Agreement, as to CONTRACTOR.
5. The recovery of costs and expenses, based upon the rates referred to above, shall be allocated to each quarter proportionately (one fourth to each quarter). However, any recoverable costs and expenses not recovered in one quarter as thus allocated, shall be carried forward for recovery in the next quarter.



2. Except as provided in Article VII(a)(3) and Article VII(e)(1), CONTRACTOR shall each quarter be entitled to take and own all Cost Recovery Petroleum, which shall be taken and disposed of in the manner determined pursuant to Article VII(e). To the extent that the value of all Cost Recovery Petroleum [as determined in Article VII(c)] exceeds the actual recoverable costs and expenditures, including any carry forward under Article VII(a)(1)(iv), to be recovered in that quarter, then the total value of such Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum shall be paid by CONTRACTOR to EGAS either (i) in cash in the manner set forth in Article IV of the Accounting Procedure contained in Annex "E", or (ii) in kind in accordance with Article VII(a)(3).
   
   
3. Ninety (90) days prior to the commencement of each Calendar Year EGAS shall be entitled to elect by notice in writing to CONTRACTOR to require payment of up to one hundred percent (100%) of EGAS' Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum in kind. Such payment shall be in Crude Oil from the Area F.O.B. export terminal or other agreed delivery point; provided that the amount of Crude Oil taken by EGAS in kind in a quarter shall not exceed the value of Cost Recovery Crude Oil actually taken and separately disposed of by CONTRACTOR from the Area during the previous quarter. If EGAS' entitlement to receive payment of its Excess Cost Recovery Petroleum in kind is limited by the foregoing provision, the balance of such entitlement shall be paid in cash.
   
   


2. PRODUCTION SHARING
1. The remaining --------- percent (-----%) of the Petroleum shall be divided quarterly between EGAS and the CONTRACTOR based on Brent value and according to the following shares.


1. Crude Oil and Condensate:



BRENT PRICE	Crude Oil produced and saved under this Agreement and not used in Petroleum operations. Barrel of Oil Per Day (BOPD) (quarterly average)	EGAS’ SHARE %	CONTRACTOR’S SHARE %
Less than or Equal to 40 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 40 US$ and less than or equal to 60 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 60 US$ and less than or equal to 80 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 80 US$ and less than or equal to 100 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 100 US$ and less than or equal to 120 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 120 US$ and less than or equal to 140 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 140 US$ and less than or equal to 160 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 160 US$ and less than or equal to 180 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 180 US$ and less than or equal to 200 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
More than 200 US$	That portion or increment less than 5 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 5 000 BOPD and less than 10 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 10 000 BOPD and less than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 20 000 BOPD	---------	---------





2. Gas and LPG



BRENT PRICE	Gas and LPG produced and saved under this Agreement and not used in Petroleum operations. Standard Cubic Feet per Day (SCFPD)(quarterly average).	EGAS’ SHARE %	CONTRACTOR’S SHARE %
Less than or Equal to 40 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 40 US$ and less than or equal to 60 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 60 US$ and less than or equal to 80 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 80 US$ and less than or equal to 100 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 100 US$ and less than or equal to 120 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 120 US$ and less than or equal to 140 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 140 US$ and less than or equal to 160 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 160 US$ and less than or equal to 180 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 180 US$ and less than or equal to 200 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
More than 200 US$	That portion or increment less than 100 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 100 Million SCFPD and less than 250 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment from 250 Million SCFPD and less than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------
	That portion or increment equal to or more than 500 Million SCFPD	---------	---------







where Brent value upon which shares are divided is the quarterly average price expressed in U.S. Dollars per barrel for Brent quoted in “ Platts Crude Oil Market wire report”, in the event that such average cannot be determined because “ Platts Crude Oil Market wire report” is not published at all during a month, the Parties shall meet and agree the value of Brent by reference to other published sources. In the event that there are no such published sources or if the value of Brent cannot be determined pursuant to the foregoing for any other reason, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree on a value of Brent.

Such Production Shares referred to in Article VII (b) (1) (i) and (ii) above shall be taken and disposed of pursuant to Article VII(e).

2. After the end of each contractual Year during the term of any Gas Sales Agreement entered into pursuant to Article VII(e), EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) shall render to EGAS (as buyer) a statement for an amount of Gas, if any , equal to the amount by which the quantity of Gas of which EGAS (as buyer) has taken delivery falls below seventy five percent (75%) of the contract quantities of Gas as established by the applicable Gas Sales Agreement (the "Shortfall"), provided that the Gas is available. Within sixty (60) days of receipt of such statement, EGAS (as buyer) shall pay EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) for the amount of the Shortfall, if any. The Shortfall shall be included in EGAS' and CONTRACTOR's entitlement to Gas pursuant to Article VII (a) and (b) in the fourth (4^th) quarter of such contractual Year.

   Quantities of Gas not taken but to be paid for shall be recorded in a separate “Take-or-Pay Account “. Quantities of Gas ("Make Up Gas") which are delivered in subsequent Years in excess of seventy five percent (75%) of the contract quantities of Gas as established by the applicable Gas Sales Agreement, shall be set against and reduce quantities of Gas in the “Take-or-Pay Account” to the extent thereof and, to that extent, no payment shall be due in respect of such Gas. Such Make Up Gas shall not be included in CONTRACTOR's entitlement to Gas pursuant to Article VII (a) and (b), CONTRACTOR shall have no rights to such “Make Up Gas”.

   At the end of any contractual Year, if EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) fail to deliver seventy-five percent (75%) of the annual contract quantity of Gas as defined in Gas Sales Agreement with EGAS (as buyer); provided that such failure is caused by CONTRACTOR, the difference between seventy five percent (75%) of the annual contract quantity of Gas and the actual delivered Gas quantity shall be referred to as the “Deliver-or-Pay Shortfall Gas”. EGAS (as buyer) shall have the right to take a quantity of Gas equal to the Deliver-or-Pay Shortfall Gas and such quantity shall be valued with ninety percent (90%) of the Gas price as defined in the Gas Sales Agreement.

   The percentages set forth in Article VII (a) and (b) in respect of LPG produced from a plant constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall apply to all LPG available for delivery.
   

3. VALUATION OF PETROLEUM:
1. Crude Oil:
1. The Cost Recovery Crude Oil to which CONTRACTOR is entitled hereunder shall be valued by EGAS and CONTRACTOR at "Market Price" for each calendar quarter.
2. "Market Price" means the weighted average price realized from sales by EGAS or CONTRACTOR during the given quarter, whichever is higher; provided that the sales to be used in arriving at the weighted average(s) shall be arm's length sales of comparable quantities on comparable credit terms in freely convertible currency from F.O.B. point of export sales to non-Affiliated Companies under all Crude Oil sales contracts then in effect, but excluding Crude Oil sales contracts involving barter, and
1. Sales, whether direct or indirect, through brokers or otherwise, of EGAS or CONTRACTOR to any Affiliated Company.
2. Sales involving a quid pro quo other than payment in a freely convertible currency or motivated in whole or in part by considerations other than the usual economic incentives for commercial arm's length crude oil sales.
3. It is understood that in the case of “C.I.F.” sales, appropriate deductions shall be made for transport and insurance charges to calculate the F.O.B. point of export price; and always taking into account the appropriate adjustment for quality of Crude Oil, freight advantage or disadvantage of port of loading and other appropriate adjustments. Market Price shall be determined separately for each Crude Oil or Crude Oil mix, and for each port of loading.
4. If during any calendar quarter, there are no such sales by EGAS and/or CONTRACTOR under the Crude Oil sales contracts in effect, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall mutually agree upon the Market Price of the Barrel of Crude Oil to be used for such quarter, and shall be guided by all relevant and available evidence including current prices in freely convertible currency of leading crude oils produced by major oil producing countries (in the Arabian Gulf or the Mediterranean area), which are regularly sold in the open market according to actual sales contracts terms but excluding paper sales and sales promises where no crude oil is delivered, to the extent that such sales are effected under such terms and conditions (excluding the price) not significantly different from those under which the Crude Oil to be valued, was sold, and always taking into consideration appropriate adjustments for Crude Oil quality, freight advantage or disadvantage of port of loading and other appropriate adjustments, as the case may be, for differences in gravity, sulphur, and other factors generally recognized by sellers and purchasers, as reflected in crude oil prices, transportation ninety (90) days insurance premiums, unusual fees borne by the seller, and for credit terms in excess of sixty (60) days, and the cost of loans or guarantees granted for the benefit of the sellers at prevailing interest rates.
   It is the intent of the parties that the value of the Cost Recovery Crude Oil shall reflect the prevailing market price for such Crude Oil.
   
   
5. If either EGAS or CONTRACTOR considers that the Market Price as determined under sub-paragraph (ii) above does not reflect the prevailing market price or in the event EGAS and CONTRACTOR fail to agree on the Market Price for any Crude Oil produced under this Agreement for any quarter within fifteen (15) days after the end thereof, any party may elect at any time thereafter to submit to a single arbitrator the question, what single price per Barrel, in the arbitrator's judgment, best represents for the pertinent quarter the Market Price for the Crude Oil in question. The arbitrator shall make his determination as soon as possible following the quarter in question. His determination shall be final and binding upon all the parties. The arbitrator shall be selected in the manner described below.

   In the event EGAS and CONTRACTOR fail to agree on the arbitrator within thirty (30) days from the date any party notifies the other that it has decided to submit the determination of the Market Price to an arbitrator, such arbitrator shall be chosen by the appointing authority designated in accordance with Article XXIV(e), or such other appointing authority with access to such expertise as may be agreed to between EGAS and CONTRACTOR, with regard to the qualifications for arbitrators set forth below, upon written application of one or both of EGAS and CONTRACTOR. Copy of such application by one of them shall be promptly sent to the other.

   The arbitrator shall be as nearly as possible a person with an established reputation in the international petroleum industry as an expert in pricing and marketing crude oil in international commerce. The arbitrator shall not be a citizen of a country which does not have diplomatic relations with the A.R.E. and the country(ies) of CONTRACTOR. He shall not be, at the time of selection, employed by, or an arbitrator or consultant on a continuing or frequent basis to, the American Petroleum Institute, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, or a consultant on a continuing basis to EGAS, CONTRACTOR or an Affiliated Company of either, but past occasional consultation with such companies, with other petroleum companies, governmental agencies or organizations shall not be a ground for disqualification. He shall not be, at any time during the two (2) Years before his selection, an employee of any petroleum company or of any governmental agency or organization.

   Should a selected person decline or be unable to serve as arbitrator or should the position of arbitrator fall vacant prior to the decision called for, another person shall be chosen in the same manner provided for in this paragraph. EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall share equally the expenses of the arbitrator.

   The arbitrator shall make his determination in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, based on the best evidence available to him. He shall review Crude Oil sales contracts as well as other sales data and information but shall be free to evaluate the extent to which any contracts, data or information is substantiated or pertinent. Representatives of EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall have the right to consult with the arbitrator and furnish him written materials; provided that the arbitrator may impose reasonable limitations on this right. EGAS and CONTRACTOR, each shall cooperate with the arbitrator to the fullest extent and each shall insure such cooperation of its trading companies. The arbitrator shall be provided access to crude oil sales contracts and related data and information which EGAS and CONTRACTOR or their trading companies are able to make available and which in the judgment of the arbitrator might aid the arbitrator in making a valid determination.

6. Pending Market Price agreement by EGAS and CONTRACTOR or determination by the arbitrator, as applicable, the Market Price agreed for the quarter preceding the quarter in question shall remain temporarily in effect. In the event that either EGAS or CONTRACTOR should incur a loss by virtue of the temporary continuation of the Market Price of the previous quarter, it shall promptly be reimbursed such loss by the other party plus simple interest at the LIBOR plus two and one - half percent (2.5%) per annum rate provided for in Article IV (f) from the date on which the disputed amount(s) should have been paid to the date of payment.
2. Gas and LPG
1. The Cost Recovery and Production Shares of Gas, which is disposed of for local market, according to a Gas Sales Agreement between EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGAS (as buyer) entered into pursuant to Article VII(e) shall be valued, delivered to and purchased at a price, which should be agreed upon between EGAS and CONTRACTOR before the final signature of the relating development lease.


2. The Cost Recovery and Production Shares of (LPG) produced from a plant constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall be separately valued for Propane and Butane at the outlet of such LPG plant according to the following formula (unless otherwise agreed between EGAS and CONTRACTOR):

   PLPG = 0.95 PR

   Where:

   PLPG = LPG price (separately determined for Propane and Butane) in U.S. Dollars per metric ton.

   PR =The average over a period of a month of the figures representing the mid-point between the high and low prices in U.S. Dollars per metric ton quoted in "Platt's LP Gaswire" during such month for Propane and Butane F.O.B Ex-Ref/Stor. West Mediterranean.

   In the event that "Platt's LP Gaswire" is issued on certain days during a month but not on others, the value of (PR) shall be calculated using only those issues which are published during such month. In the event that the value of (PR) can not be determined because "Platt's LP Gaswire" is not published at all during a month, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree to the value of (PR) by reference to other published sources. In the event that there are no such other published sources or if the value of (PR) can not be determined pursuant to the foregoing for any other reason, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree the value of (PR) by reference to the value of LPG (Propane and Butane) delivered F.O.B from the Mediterranean area.

   Such valuation of LPG is based upon delivery at the delivery point specified in Article VII (e)(2)(iii).

3. The prices of Gas and LPG so calculated shall apply during the same month.
4. In case Gas is disposed of for export by EGAS and CONTRACTOR to a third party, pursuant to Article VII (e), then the Cost Recovery Gas and the Production Shares of such Gas shall be valued according to the netback price.
5. The Cost Recovery and Production Shares of LPG disposed of for export by EGAS and CONTRACTOR pursuant to Article VII(e) shall be valued at its actual realized price.


4. FORECASTS:

The Joint Venture Company shall prepare (not less than ninety (90) days prior to the beginning of each calendar semester following first regular production) and furnish in writing to CONTRACTOR and EGAS a forecast setting out a total quantity of Petroleum that the Joint Venture Company estimates can be produced, saved and transported hereunder during such calendar semester in accordance with good petroleum industry practices.

The Joint Venture Company shall endeavor to produce the forecast quantity during each calendar semester. The Crude Oil shall be run to storage tanks or offshore loading facilities constructed, maintained and operated according to Government Regulations, by the Joint Venture Company, in which said Crude Oil shall be metered or otherwise measured for royalty, and other purposes required by this Agreement. Gas shall be handled by the Joint Venture Company in accordance with the provisions of Article VII(e).


5. DISPOSITION OF PETROLEUM:
1. EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall have the right and the obligation to separately take and freely export or otherwise dispose of, currently all of the Crude Oil to which each is entitled under Article VII(a) and (b). Subject to payment of sums due to EGAS under Article VII(a)(2) and Article IX, CONTRACTOR shall have the right to remit and retain abroad all funds acquired by it including the proceeds from the sale of its share of Petroleum.

   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under this Agreement, priority shall be given to meet the requirements of the A.R.E. market from CONTRACTOR's share under Article VII (a) and (b) of the Crude Oil produced from the Area and EGAS or EGPC shall have the preferential right to purchase such Crude Oil at a price to be determined pursuant to Article VII(c). The amount of Crude Oil so purchased shall be a portion of CONTRACTOR's share under Article VII (a) and (b). Such amount shall be proportional to CONTRACTOR's share of the total production of crude oil from the concession areas in the A.R.E. that are also subject to EGAS'/EGPC’s preferential right to purchase. The payment for such purchased amount shall be made by EGAS in U.S. Dollars or in any other freely convertible currency remittable by CONTRACTOR abroad.

   It is agreed upon that EGAS shall notify CONTRACTOR, at least forty five (45) days prior to the beginning of the calendar semester, of the amount to be purchased during such semester under this Article VII(e)(1).

2. With respect to Gas and LPG produced from the Area:
1. Priority shall be given to meet the requirements of the local market as determined by EGAS. In case of unavailability of local market, EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall have the right to dispose of the Gas in the following manner:-
   
   
• In case contractor elects to dispose its production share of Gas or LPG by himself either for the local market or for Export, The CONTRACTOR should have the A.R.E. competent authorities’ approval.
• In case EGAS and CONTRACTOR agree on exporting Gas or LPG together, they should have the A.R.E. competent authorities’ approval on the exporting Gas price and the Gas quantities allocated for export.
  
  
2. In the event that EGAS is to be the buyer of Gas, the disposition of Gas as indicated above shall be made by virtue of a long term Gas Sales Agreement(s) to be entered into between EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGAS (as buyer).
   EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) shall have the obligation to deliver the Gas at the delivery point as indicated below, where such Gas shall be metered for sales, royalty, and other purposes required by this Agreement.
   
   
1. In the event no LPG plant is constructed to process such Gas, the delivery point shall be at the flange connecting the Development Lease pipeline to the nearest point on the National Gas Pipeline Grid System as depicted in Annex "F" hereto or as otherwise agreed by EGAS and CONTRACTOR.
2. In the event an LPG plant is constructed to process such Gas, such Gas shall, for the purposes of valuation and sales, be metered at the outlet of such LPG Plant. However, notwithstanding the fact that the metering shall take place at the LPG Plant outlet, CONTRACTOR shall through the Joint Venture Company build a pipeline suitable for transport of the processed Gas from the LPG Plant outlet to the nearest point on the National Gas Pipeline Grid System as depicted in Annex "F" hereto, or otherwise agreed by EGAS and CONTRACTOR. Such pipeline shall be owned in accordance with Article VIII (a) by EGAS, and its cost shall be financed and recovered by CONTRACTOR as Development Expenditures pursuant to this Article VII.
   
   
3. EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall consult together to determine whether to build LPG Plant to recover LPG from any Gas produced hereunder. In the event that EGAS and CONTRACTOR decide to build such plant, the plant shall, as is appropriate, be in the vicinity of the point of delivery as determined in Article II and Article VII(e)(2)(ii). The delivery of LPG for, royalty and other purposes required by this Agreement shall be at the outlet of the LPG plant. The costs of any such LPG plant shall be recoverable in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, unless the Minister of Petroleum agrees to accelerated recovery.
4. EGAS (as buyer) shall have the right to elect, by ninety (90) days prior written notice to EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers), whether payment for the Gas which is subject to a Gas Sales Agreement between EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) and EGAS (as buyer) and LPG produced from a plant constructed and operated by or on behalf of EGAS and CONTRACTOR, as valued in accordance with Article VII(c), and to which CONTRACTOR is entitled under the Cost Recovery and Production Sharing provisions of this Article VII, shall be made 1) in cash or 2) in kind.

   Payments in cash shall be made by EGAS (as buyer) at intervals provided for in the relevant Gas Sales Agreement in U.S. Dollars, remittable by CONTRACTOR abroad.

   Payments in kind shall be calculated by converting the value of Gas and LPG to which CONTRACTOR is entitled into equivalent Barrels of Crude Oil to be taken concurrently by CONTRACTOR from the Area, or to the extent that such Crude Oil is insufficient, Crude Oil from CONTRACTOR's other concession areas or such other areas as may be agreed. Such Crude Oil shall be added to the Crude Oil that CONTRACTOR is otherwise entitled to lift under this Agreement. Such equivalent Barrels shall be calculated on the basis of the provisions of Article VII(c) relating to the valuation of Cost Recovery Crude Oil.

Provided that:

aa.

Payment of the value of Gas and LPG shall always be made in cash in U.S. Dollars remittable by CONTRACTOR abroad to the extent that there is insufficient Crude Oil available for conversion as provided for above.

bb.

Payment of the value of Gas and LPG shall always be made in kind as provided for above to the extent that payments in cash are not made by EGAS. Payments to CONTRACTOR (whether in cash or in kind), when related to CONTRACTOR's Cost Recovery Petroleum, shall be included in CONTRACTOR's Statement of Recovery of Costs and of Cost Recovery Petroleum referred to in Article IV of Annex "E" of this Agreement.

5. In case a long term Gas Sales Agreement is not entered between EGAS (as buyer) and EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) within three (3 or 4) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) from the date of the notice of Commercial Gas Discovery pursuant to Article III (c) (unless shorter period is agreed upon by EGAS), EGAS (as seller) or EGAS and CONTRACTOR (as sellers) shall have the right to take and freely dispose of the quantity of Gas and LPG in respect of which the notice of Commercial Discovery has been given by exporting such Gas and LPG, provided that the A.R.E. competent authorities’ approval is granted.
6. The proceeds of sale of CONTRACTOR's share of Gas and LPG disposed of pursuant to the above sub-paragraph (v) may be freely remitted or retained abroad by CONTRACTOR.
7. In the event that EGAS and CONTRACTOR agree to accept new Gas and LPG producers to join in an ongoing export project, such producers shall have to contribute a fair and equitable share of the investment made.
27. Upon the expiration of the three (3 or 4) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Year period referred to in Article VII(e)(2)(v), CONTRACTOR shall have the obligation to exert its reasonable efforts to find an export market for the Gas reserves, provided that the A.R.E. competent authorities’ approval is granted.
    
    

bb.

In the event that at the end of the three (3 or 4) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Year period referred to under Article VII(e)(2)(v), CONTRACTOR and EGAS have not entered into a Gas Sales Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall retain its rights to such Gas reserves for a further period of up to three (3 or 4) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Years, subject to Article VII(e)(2)(viii)(cc), during which period EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall attempt to find a market for such Gas reserves.

cc.

In the event that CONTRACTOR is not exporting the Gas and CONTRACTOR has not entered into a Gas Sales Agreement pursuant to Article VII (e)(2) prior to the expiry of six (6 or 8) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Year period from CONTRACTOR's notice of Commercial Gas Discovery, CONTRACTOR shall surrender the Gas reserves in respect of which such notice has been given. It is understood that CONTRACTOR shall, at any time prior to the expiry of the six (6 or 8) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Year period from CONTRACTOR's notice of Commercial Gas Discovery of such Gas pursuant to Article III; surrender such Gas reserves, if CONTRACTOR is not exporting the Gas and CONTRACTOR does not accept an offer of a Gas Sales Agreement from EGAS within six (6) months from the date such offer is made; provided that the Gas Sales Agreement offered to CONTRACTOR shall take into consideration the relevant technical and economic factors to enable a commercial contract, including:

• A sufficient delivery rate.
• Delivery pressure to enter the National Gas Pipeline Grid System at the point of delivery.
• Delivered Gas quality specifications, not more stringent than those imposed or required for the National Gas Pipeline Grid System; and.
• The Gas prices as specified in this Agreement.




dd.

In the event that CONTRACTOR has not entered into a Gas Sales Agreement pursuant to Article VII(e)(2) or has not otherwise found an acceptable scheme for commercial disposal of such Gas, at the time of the expiration of six (6 or 8) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Years from CONTRACTOR’s notice of Commercial Gas Discovery or failing agreement with EGAS on Gas disposal at the expiration of the aforesaid six (6 or 8) (This period will be determined according to Block No. in the Bid Round Terms and Conditions) Year period, CONTRACTOR shall surrender to EGAS such Development Lease(s) in which such Gas Discovery was made.

9. CONTRACTOR shall not be obligated to surrender a Development Lease based on a Commercial Gas Discovery, if Crude Oil has been discovered in commercial quantities in the same Development Lease.


6. OPERATIONS:
   If following the reversion to EGAS of any rights to Crude Oil hereunder, CONTRACTOR retains rights to Gas in the same Development Lease, or if, following the surrender of rights to Gas hereunder, CONTRACTOR retains rights to Crude Oil in the same Development Lease, operations to explore for or exploit the Petroleum, the rights to which have been reverted or surrendered (Oil or Gas, as the case may be) shall only be carried out by the Joint Venture Company which shall act on behalf of EGAS alone, unless CONTRACTOR and EGAS agree otherwise.
   
   
7. TANKER SCHEDULING:
   At a reasonable time prior to the commencement of Commercial Production EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall meet and agree upon a procedure for scheduling tanker liftings from the agreed upon point of export.
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ARTICLE VIII
TITLE TO ASSETS



1. EGAS shall become the owner of all CONTRACTOR acquired and owned assets which assets were charged to Cost Recovery by CONTRACTOR in connection with the operations carried out by CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company in accordance with the following:
1. Land shall become the property of EGAS as soon as it is purchased.
2. Title to fixed and movable assets shall be transferred automatically and gradually from CONTRACTOR to EGAS as they become subject to recovery in accordance with the provisions of Article VII; however, the full title to fixed and movable assets shall be transferred automatically from CONTRACTOR to EGAS when their total cost has been recovered by CONTRACTOR in accordance with the provisions of Article VII or at the time of termination of this Agreement with respect to all assets chargeable to the operations whether recovered or not, whichever first occurs.

The book value of the assets created during each calendar quarter shall be communicated by CONTRACTOR to EGAS or by the Joint Venture Company to EGAS and CONTRACTOR within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar quarter.

3. All samples and technical data shall be transferred to EGAS upon EGAS’ request or at the termination of the Agreement.


2. During the term of this Agreement, EGAS, CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company are entitled to the full use and enjoyment of all fixed and movable assets referred to above in connection with operations hereunder or under any other Petroleum concession agreement entered into by the parties. In that case, proper accounting adjustment shall be made. CONTRACTOR and EGAS shall not dispose of the same except with agreement of the other.


3. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company may freely import into the A.R.E., use therein and freely export at the end of such use, machinery and equipments which they either rent or lease in accordance with good industry practices, including but not limited to the lease of computer hardware and software.
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ARTICLE IX
BONUSES



1. CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS as a signature bonus the sum of ------- -------- U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000) on the Effective Date.
2. CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS as a Development Lease bonus the sum of ---------------- U.S. Dollars ($ --- 000 000) on the date of the approval of each Development Lease.
3. CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS the sum of ----------- U.S. Dollars ($ --- 000 000) as a Development Lease extension bonus on the approval date of entry into the five (5) Year Extension Period pursuant to Article III (d)(iii)(dd).
4. CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS as an assignment bonus on the date of approval of each assignment requested by any of the CONTRACTOR Members to any assignee in accordance with Article XXI, in the following cases:



1. During any Exploration period, in case CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Memeber assigns in whole or in part of it’s rights, privileges, duties and obligations to any assignee other than an Affiliate Company of the same CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member, CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS the sum equivalent to ten percent (10%), valued in US Dollars, of the total financial commitment of the then current Exploration phase during which the assignment is made and according to the assigned percentage.
2. During any Development Period, in case CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member assigns in whole or in part of it’s rights, privileges, duties and obligations to any assignee other than an Affiliate Company of the same CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member, CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS the sum of ten percent (10%), valued in US Dollars, of the value of each Assignment Deal which could be any of the following:
• The financial value to be paid by the Assignee to the Assignor; or
• The financial value of shares or stocks to be exchanged between the Assignor and the Assignee; or
• The financial commitments for technical programs; or
• The financial value of the reserves, to be swapped between the assignor and the assignee from the Development Lease(s) areas; or
• Any other type of deal to be declared.
3. During any Exploration phase and after a Development Lease is granted, in case CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member assigns in whole or in part of it’s rights, privileges, duties and obligations to any assignee other than an Affiliate Company of the same CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member, CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS the sum of the value of the assignment bonus as mentioned in (i) and (ii) above.
4. In case of an assignment to an Affiliate company of the same CONTRACTOR/ CONTRACTOR Member during any Exploration or Development phase; CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS one hundred and fifty thousand U.S. Dollars (US$ 150 000).



5. During any Exploration phase (as it may be extended), CONTRACTOR shall submit to EGAS, at the beginning of every Financial Year, the sum of ------- -------- U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000) as a training bonus to cover the training of EGAS’ employees.
6. CONTRACTOR shall pay to EGAS the sum of -------------- U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000) as a production bonus when the total average daily production from the Area first reaches the rate of five thousand (5 000) Barrels of Oil or equivalent per day as for a period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days. Payment shall be made within fifteen (15) days thereafter.
7. CONTRACTOR shall also pay to EGAS the additional sum of --------------------------------- U.S. Dollars ($--- 000 000) as a production bonus when the total average daily production from the Area first reaches the rate of ten thousand (10 000) Barrels of Oil or equivalent per day for a period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days. Payment shall be made within fifteen (15) days thereafter.
8. CONTRACTOR shall also pay to EGAS the additional sum of
   U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000) as a production bonus when the total average daily production from the Area first reaches the rate of twenty five thousand (25 000) Barrels of Oil or equivalent per day for a period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days. Payment will be made within fifteen (15) days thereafter.
9. CONTRACTOR shall also pay to EGAS the additional sum of -------------- U.S. Dollars ($ -- 000 000) as a production bonus when the total average daily production from the Area first reaches the rate of fifty thousand (50 000) Barrels of Oil or equivalent per day for a period of thirty (30) consecutive producing days. Payment shall be made within fifteen (15) days thereafter.
10. All the above mentioned bonuses shall in no event be recovered by CONTRACTOR.
11. In the event that EGAS elects to develop any part of the Area pursuant to the sole risk provisions of Article III c (iv), production from such sole risk area shall be considered for the purposes of this Article IX only if CONTRACTOR exercises its option to share in such production, and only from the initial date of sharing.
12. Gas shall be taken into account for purpose of determining the total average daily production from the Area under Article IX
    (f-i) by converting daily Gas delivered into equivalent barrels of daily Crude Oil production in accordance with the following formula for each unit of one thousand (1,000) standard Cubic Feet of Gas:

Equivalent Barrels of Oil Per MSCF = H x 0.167

Where:

MSCF = one thousand Standard Cubic Feet of Gas .

H = the number of million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) per MSCF.

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ARTICLE X
OFFICE AND SERVICE OF NOTICES




CONTRACTOR shall maintain an office in the A.R.E. at which notices shall be validly served.

The General Manager and Deputy General Manager shall be entrusted by CONTRACTOR with sufficient power to carry out immediately all local written directions given to them by the Government or its representatives under the terms of this Agreement. All lawful regulations issued or hereafter to be issued, which are applicable hereunder and not in conflict with this Agreement, shall apply to the duties and activities of the General Manager and Deputy General Manager.

All matters and notices shall be deemed to be validly served if delivered to the office of the General Manager or which are sent to him by registered mail to CONTRACTOR's office in the A.R.E.

All matters and notices shall be deemed to be validly served if delivered to the office of the Chairman of EGAS or which are sent to him by registered mail at EGAS' main office in Cairo, A.R.E.

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ARTICLE XI
SAVING OF PETROLEUM AND PREVENTION OF LOSS



1. The Joint Venture Company shall take all proper measures, according to generally accepted methods in use in the petroleum industry, to prevent loss or waste of Petroleum above or under the ground in any form during drilling, producing, gathering, and distributing or storage operations. The GOVERNMENT has the right to prevent any operation on any well, that it might reasonably expect would result in loss or damage to the well or the Oil or Gas field.
2. Upon completion of the drilling of a productive well, the Joint Venture Company shall inform the GOVERNMENT or its representative of the time when the well shall be tested and the production rate ascertained.
3. Except in instances where multiple producing formations in the same well can only be produced economically through a single tubing string, Petroleum shall not be produced from multiple Oil bearing zones through one string of tubing at the same time, except with the prior approval of the GOVERNMENT or its representative, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
4. The Joint Venture Company shall record data regarding the quantities of Petroleum and water produced monthly from each Development Lease. Such data shall be sent to the GOVERNMENT or its representative on the special forms provided for that purpose within thirty (30) days after the data has been obtained. Daily or weekly statistics regarding the production from the Area shall be available at all reasonable times for examination by authorized representatives of the GOVERNMENT.
5. Daily drilling records and the graphic logs of wells shall show the quantity and type of cement and the amount of any other materials used in the well for the purpose of protecting Petroleum, Gas bearing or fresh water strata.
6. Any substantial change of mechanical conditions of the well after its completion shall be subject to the approval of the representative of the GOVERNMENT.
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ARTICLE XII
CUSTOMS EXEMPTIONS



1. EGAS, CONTRACTOR, and the Joint Venture Company shall be permitted to import and shall be exempted from customs duties, any taxes, levies or fees (including fees imposed by Ministerial Decision No. 254 of 1993 issued by the Minister of Finance, as now or hereafter amended or substituted) of any nature and from the importation rules with respect to the importation of machinery, equipment, appliances, materials, items, means of transport and transportation, electric appliances, air conditioners for offices, field housing and facilities, electronic appliances, computer hardware and software, as well as spare parts required for any of the imported items, all subject to a duly approved certificate issued by the responsible representative nominated by EGAS for such purpose, stating that the imported items are required for conducting the operations pursuant to this Agreement. Such certificate shall be final and binding and shall automatically result in the importation and the exemption without any further approval, delay or procedure.
2. Machinery, equipment, appliances and means of transport and transportation imported by EGAS' , CONTRACTOR's and the Joint Venture Company's contractors and sub-contractors temporarily engaged in any activity pursuant to the operations which are the subject of this Agreement, shall be cleared under the "Temporary Release System" without payment of customs duties, any taxes, levies or fees (including fees imposed by Ministerial Decision No. 254 of 1993 issued by the Minister of Finance, as now or hereafter amended or substituted) of any nature, upon presentation of a duly approved certificate issued by EGAS responsible representative nominated by EGAS for such purpose, stating that the imported items are required for conducting the operations pursuant to this Agreement. Items set out in Article XII (a) imported by EGAS', CONTRACTOR's and the Joint Venture Company's contractors and sub-contractors for the aforesaid operations, in order to be installed or used permanently or consumed shall meet the conditions for exemption set forth in Article XII(a) after being duly certified by EGAS' responsible representative to be used for conducting operations pursuant to this Agreement.
3. The expatriate employees of CONTRACTOR, the Joint Venture Company and their contractors and sub-contractors shall not be entitled to any exemptions from customs duties and other ancillary taxes and charges except within the limits of the provisions of the laws and regulations applicable in the A.R.E. However, personal household goods and furniture (including one (1) car) for each expatriate employee of CONTRACTOR and/or the Joint Venture Company shall be cleared under the "Temporary Release System" (without payment of any customs duties and other ancillary taxes) upon presentation of a letter to the appropriate customs authorities by CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company approved by EGAS' responsible representative stating that the imported items are imported for the sole use of the expatriate employee and his family, and that such imported items shall be re-exported outside the A.R.E. upon the repatriation of the concerned expatriate employee.


4. Items imported into the A.R.E., whether exempt or not exempt from customs duties and other ancillary taxes and charges hereunder, may be exported by the importing party at any time after obtaining EGAS' approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, without any export duties, taxes or charges or any taxes or charges from which such items have been already exempted, being applicable. Such items may be sold within the A.R.E. after obtaining the approval of EGAS, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. In this event, the purchaser of such items shall pay all applicable customs duties and other ancillary taxes and charges according to the condition and value of such items and the tariff applicable on the date of sale, unless such items have already been sold to an Affiliated Company of CONTRACTOR, if any, or EGAS, having the same exemption, or unless title to such items has passed to EGAS.

   In the event of any such sale under this paragraph (d), the proceeds from such sale shall be divided in the following manner:

   CONTRACTOR shall be entitled to reimbursement of its unrecovered cost, if any, in such items and the excess, if any, shall be paid to EGAS.
   

5. The exemption provided for in Article XII(a) shall not apply to any imported items when items of the same or substantially the same kind and quality are manufactured locally, meet the CONTRACTOR's and/or the Joint Venture Company's specifications for quality and safety, and are available for timely purchase and delivery in the A.R.E. at a price not higher than ten percent (10%) more than the cost of the imported item, before customs duties but after freight and insurance costs, if any, have been added.


6. CONTRACTOR, EGAS and their respective buyers shall have the right to freely export the Petroleum produced from the Area pursuant to this Agreement; no license shall be required, and such Petroleum shall be exempted from any customs duties, any taxes, levies or any other imposts in respect of the export of Petroleum hereunder.
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ARTICLE XIII
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT; ACCOUNTING AND PAYMENTS



1. EGAS, CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall each maintain at their business offices in the A.R.E. books of account, in accordance with the Accounting Procedure in Annex "E" and accepted accounting practices generally used in the petroleum industry, and such other books and records as may be necessary to show the work performed under this Agreement, including the amount and value of all Petroleum produced and saved hereunder. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall keep their books of account and accounting records in U.S. Dollars.
   The Joint Venture Company shall furnish to the GOVERNMENT or its representatives monthly returns showing the amount of Petroleum produced and saved hereunder. Such returns shall be prepared in the form required by the GOVERNMENT, or its representatives and shall be signed by the General Manager or by the Deputy General Manager or a duly designated deputy and delivered to the GOVERNMENT or its representatives within thirty (30) days after the end of the month covered in the return.
   
   
2. The aforesaid books of account and other books and records referred to above shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by duly authorized representatives of the GOVERNMENT.



3. CONTRACTOR shall submit to EGAS a Profit and Loss Statement of its Tax Year not later than four (4) months after the commencement of the following Tax Year to show its net profit or loss from the Petroleum operations under this Agreement for such Tax Year.
   CONTRACTOR shall at the same time submit a year-end Balance Sheet for the same Tax Year to EGAS. The Balance Sheet and financial statements shall be certified by an Egyptian certified accounting firm.
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ARTICLE XIV
RECORDS, REPORTS AND INSPECTION



1. CONTRACTOR and/or the Joint Venture Company shall prepare and, at all times while this Agreement is in force, maintain accurate and current records of their operations in the Area. CONTRACTOR and/or the Joint Venture Company shall furnish the GOVERNMENT or its representatives, in conformity with applicable regulations or as the GOVERNMENT or its representatives may reasonably require, information and data concerning their operations under this Agreement. The Joint Venture Company shall perform the functions indicated in this Article XIV in accordance with its role as specified in Article VI.
2. CONTRACTOR and/or the Joint Venture Company shall save and keep a representative portion of each sample of cores and cuttings taken from drilling wells, to be disposed of, or forwarded to the GOVERNMENT or its representatives in the manner directed by the GOVERNMENT. All samples acquired by CONTRACTOR and/or the Joint Venture Company for their own purposes shall be considered available for inspection at any reasonable time by the GOVERNMENT or its representatives.
3. Unless otherwise agreed to by EGAS, in case of exporting any rock samples outside the A.R.E., samples equivalent in size and quality shall, before such exportation, be delivered to EGAS as representative of the GOVERNMENT.
4. Originals of records shall only be exported with the permission of EGAS; provided, however, that magnetic tapes and any other data which must be processed or analyzed outside the A.R.E. may be exported if a monitor or a comparable record, if available, is maintained in the A.R.E.; and provided that such exports shall be promptly repatriated to the A.R.E. following such processing or analysis on the understanding that they belong to EGAS.
5. During the period in which CONTRACTOR is conducting the Exploration operations, EGAS' duly authorized representatives or employees shall have the right to full and complete access to the Area at all reasonable times with the right to observe the operations being conducted and to inspect all assets, records and data kept by CONTRACTOR. EGAS' representatives or employees, in exercising their rights under the preceding sentence of this paragraph (e), shall not cause any harm to CONTRACTOR's operations. CONTRACTOR shall provide EGAS with copies of any and all data (including, but not limited to, geological and geophysical reports, logs and well surveys), information and interpretation of such data, and other relevant information in CONTRACTOR's possession.

   During the period in which CONTRACTOR conducts the Exploration operations, CONTRACTOR shall furnish EGAS with monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual technical status reports.

   For the purpose of obtaining new offers, the GOVERNMENT and/or EGAS may at the end of any Exploration period ,as it may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Article V above, or at the date of termination of this Agreement, whichever is earlier, show any other party geophysical and geological data with respect to the area which CONTRACTOR has relinquished.

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ARTICLE XV
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES




CONTRACTOR shall entirely and solely be responsible in law toward third parties for any damage caused by CONTRACTOR's Exploration operations and shall indemnify the GOVERNMENT and/or EGAS against all damages for which they may be held liable on account of any such operations.

However, in the event that any damage results as a consequence of the issuance of any order, regulation or direction of the GOVERNMENT of the A. R. E. whether promulgated in the form of a law or otherwise, then EGAS and / or CONTRACTOR shall be exempted from the responsibility resulting from the non-performance or delay in performance of any obligation under this Agreement as long as such non-performance or delay in performance is arising out of the issuance of such orders, regulations or laws within the limits imposed by such orders, regulations or laws. EGAS and / or CONTRACTOR shall be granted the necessary period for the restoration of any damage resulting from the non-performance or the delay in performance, provided that such granted period shall be added to the term of the relevant period of this Agreement at that time and shall be restricted to the Block(s) affected by such orders, regulations or laws and shall not exceed the period of delay referred to above.

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ARTICLE XVI
PRIVILEGES OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES




Duly authorized representatives of the GOVERNMENT shall have access to the Area covered by this Agreement and to the operations conducted thereon. Such representatives may examine the books, registers and records of EGAS, CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company and make a reasonable number of surveys, drawings and tests for the purpose of enforcing this Agreement. They shall, for this purpose, be entitled to make reasonable use of the machinery and instruments of CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company on the condition that no danger or impediment to the operations hereunder shall arise directly or indirectly from such use. Such representatives shall be given reasonable assistance by the agents and employees of CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company so that none of their activities endanger or hinder the safety or efficiency of the operations. CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company shall offer such representatives all privileges and facilities accorded to its own employees in the field and shall provide them, free of charge, the use of reasonable office space and of adequately furnished housing while they are in the field for the purpose of facilitating the objectives of this Article XVI.Without prejudice to Article XIV(e), any and all information obtained by the GOVERNMENT or its representatives under this Article XVI shall be kept confidential with respect to the Area.

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ARTICLE XVII
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND TRAINING OF
ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT PERSONNEL



1. It is the desire of EGAS and CONTRACTOR that operations hereunder be conducted in a business-like and efficient manner:
1. The expatriate administrative, professional and technical personnel employed by CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company and the personnel of its contractors for the conduct of the operations hereunder, shall be granted a residence as provided for in Law No. 89 of 1960, as amended, and Ministerial Order No. 8180 of 1996, and CONTRACTOR agrees that all immigration, passport, visa and employment regulations of the A.R.E., shall be applicable to all alien employees of CONTRACTOR working in the A.R.E.
2. A minimum of twenty five percent (25%) of the combined salaries and wages of each of the expatriate administrative, professional and technical personnel employed by CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company shall be paid monthly in Egyptian currency.


2. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall each select its employees and determine the number thereof, to be used for operations hereunder.


3. CONTRACTOR, shall after consultation with EGAS, prepare and carry out specialized training programs for all its employees in A.R.E. engaged in operations hereunder with respect to applicable aspects of the petroleum industry. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company undertake to replace gradually their non-executive expatriate staff by qualified nationals as they are available.
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ARTICLE XVIII
LAWS AND REGULATIONS

1. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall be subject to Law No. 66 of 1953 (excluding Article 37 thereof), as amended by Law No. 86 of 1956 as amended, and the regulations issued for the implementation thereof, including the regulations for the safe and efficient performance of operations carried out for the execution of this Agreement and for the conservation of the Petroleum resources of the A.R.E.; provided that no regulations, or modification or interpretation thereof are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
2. CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall be subject to the provisions of the Law No. 4 of 1994 concerning the environment and its executive regulation, as may be amended, as well as any laws or regulations that may be issued, concerning the protection of the environment.
3. Except as provided in Article III(g) for Income Taxes, EGAS, CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall be exempted from all taxes and duties, whether imposed by the GOVERNMENT or municipalities including among others, Sales Tax, Value Added Tax and Taxes on the Exploration, Development, extracting, producing, exporting or transporting of Petroleum and LPG as well as any and all withholding taxes that might otherwise be imposed on dividends, interest, technical service fees, patent and trademark royalties, and similar items. CONTRACTOR shall also be exempted from any tax on the liquidation of CONTRACTOR, or distributions of any income to the shareholders of CONTRACTOR, and from any tax on capital.
4. The rights and obligations of EGAS and CONTRACTOR under, and for the effective term of this Agreement shall be governed by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and may only be altered or amended by the written mutual agreement of the said contracting parties and according to the same procedures by which the original Agreement has been issued.
5. The contractors and sub-contractors of CONTRACTOR and the Joint Venture Company shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement which affect them. Without prejudice to Article XVIII (b) above, if regulations which are duly issued by the GOVERNMENT apply from time to time and are not in accord with the provisions of this Agreement, such regulations shall not apply to CONTRACTOR, the Joint Venture Company and their respective contractors and sub-contractors, as the case may be.
6. EGAS, CONTRACTOR, the Joint Venture Company and their respective contractors and sub-contractors shall for the purposes of this Agreement be exempted from all professional stamp duties, imposts and levies imposed by syndical laws with respect to their documents and activities hereunder.
7. Without prejudice to Article XVIII (b) above, all the exemptions from the application of the A.R.E. laws or regulations granted to EGAS, CONTRACTOR, the Joint Venture Company, their contractors and sub-contractors under this Agreement shall include such laws and regulations as presently in effect or as thereafter amended or substituted.
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ARTICLE XIX
STABILIZATION




In case of changes in existing legislation or regulations applicable to the conduct of Exploration, Development and production of Petroleum, which take place after the Effective Date, and which significantly affect the economic interest of this Agreement to the detriment of CONTRACTOR or which imposes on CONTRACTOR an obligation to remit to the A.R.E. the proceeds from sales of CONTRACTOR's Petroleum, CONTRACTOR shall notify EGAS of the subject legislative or regulatory measure as well as its consequent effects that may cause the destabilization of the Agreement. In such case, the parties shall negotiate appropriate modifications to this Agreement designed to restore the economic balance thereof which existed on the Effective Date.

The parties shall use their best efforts to agree on the appropriate amendments to this Agreement within ninety (90) days from aforesaid notice.

These amendments to this Agreement shall in any event neither decrease nor increase the rights and obligations of CONTRACTOR as these were agreed on the Effective Date.

In the event the parties fail to reach an agreement during the period referred to above in this Article, such dispute shall be referred to the general rules in settling the disputes stated in Article XXIV of this Agreement.

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ARTICLE XX
RIGHT OF REQUISITION



1. In case of national emergency due to war or imminent expectation of war or internal causes, the GOVERNMENT may requisition all or part of the production from the Area obtained hereunder and require the Joint Venture Company to increase such production to the utmost possible maximum. The GOVERNMENT may also requisition the Oil and/or Gas field itself and, if necessary, related facilities.
2. In any such case, such requisition shall not be effected except after inviting EGAS and CONTRACTOR or their representatives by registered letter, with acknowledgement of receipt, to express their views with respect to such requisition.
3. The requisition of production shall be effected by Ministerial Order. Any requisition of Oil and/or Gas field itself, or any related facilities, shall be effected by a Presidential Decree duly notified to EGAS and CONTRACTOR.
4. In the event of any requisition as provided for above, the GOVERNMENT shall indemnify in full EGAS and CONTRACTOR for the period during which the requisition is maintained, including:
1. All damages which result from such requisition; and
2. Full repayment each month for all Petroleum extracted by the GOVERNMENT less the royalty share of such production.

However, any damage resulting from enemy attack is not within the meaning of this paragraph (d). Payment hereunder shall be made to CONTRACTOR in U.S. Dollars remittable abroad. The price paid to CONTRACTOR for Petroleum taken shall be calculated in accordance with Article VII(c).
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ARTICLE XXI
ASSIGNMENT



1. Neither EGAS nor CONTRACTOR may assign to a person, firm or corporation, in whole or in part, any of its rights, privileges, duties or obligations under this Agreement either directly or indirectly without the written approval of the GOVERNMENT, and in all cases priority shall be given to EGAS; if it so desire, to obtain such interest intended to be assigned (except assignment to an Affiliated Company of the same CONTRACTOR Member).


2. Without prejudice to Article XXI (a), CONTRACTOR may assign all or any of its rights, privileges, duties and obligations under this Agreement to an Affiliated Company of the same CONTRACTOR Member, provided that CONTRACTOR shall notify EGAS and the GOVERNMENT in writing and obtain the written approval of the GOVERNMENT on the assignment.
   In the case of an assignment either in a whole or in a part to an Affiliated Company, the assignor together with the assignee shall remain jointly and severally liable for all duties and obligations of CONTRACTOR under this Agreement provided such Affiliated Company remains in the same capacity as an Affiliated Company.
   
   
3. To enable consideration to be given to any request for such GOVERNMENT's consent referred to in (a) or (b) above, the following conditions must be fulfilled:
1. The obligations of the assignor deriving from this Agreement must have been duly fulfilled as of the date such request is made.
2. The instrument of assignment must include provisions stating precisely that the assignee is bound by all covenants contained in this Agreement and any modifications or additions in writing that up to such time may have been made.
   A draft of such instrument of assignment shall be submitted to EGAS for review and approval before being formally executed.
3. The assignor(s) must submit to EGAS reasonable documents that evidence the assignee's financial and technical competence.


4. Any assignment, sale, transfer or other such conveyance made pursuant to the provisions of this Article XXI shall be free of any transfer, capital gains taxes or related taxes, charges or fees including without limitation, all Income Tax, Sales Tax, Value Added Tax, Stamp Duty, or other Taxes or similar payments.


5. Once the assignor and a proposed third party assignee, other than an Affiliated Company, have agreed the final conditions of an assignment, the assignor shall disclose in details such final conditions in a written notification to EGAS. EGAS shall have the right to acquire the interest intended to be assigned, if, within one hundred and twenty (120) days from assignor’s written notification, EGAS delivers to the assignor a written notification that it accepts the same conditions agreed to with the proposed third party assignee. If EGAS does not deliver such notification within such one hundred and twenty (120) day period, the assignor shall have the right to assign to the proposed third party assignee, subject to the Government approval under paragraph (a) of this Article.


6. As long as the assignor shall hold any interest under this Agreement, the assignor together with the assignee shall be jointly and severally liable for all duties and obligations of CONTRACTOR under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE XXII
BREACH OF AGREEMENT AND POWER TO CANCEL



1. The GOVERNMENT shall have the right to cancel this Agreement by Order or Presidential Decree, with respect to CONTRACTOR, in the following instances:
1. If it has knowingly submitted any false statements to the GOVERNMENT which were of a material consideration for the execution of this Agreement.
2. If it assigns any interest hereunder contrary to the provisions of Article XXI.
3. If it is adjudicated bankrupt by a court of competent jurisdiction.
4. If it does not comply with any final decision reached as the result of court proceedings conducted under Article XXIV(a).
5. If it intentionally extracts any mineral, other than Petroleum, not authorized by this Agreement or without the authorization of the GOVERNMENT, except such extractions that may be unavoidable as the result of the operations conducted hereunder in accordance with accepted petroleum industry practice and which shall be notified to the GOVERNMENT or its representative as soon as possible.
6. If it commits any material breach of this Agreement or of the provisions of Law No. 66 of 1953, as amended by Law No. 86 of 1956 as amended; provided that they, are not contradicted by the provisions of this Agreement.

   Such cancellation shall take place without prejudice to any rights which may have accrued to the GOVERNMENT against CONTRACTOR in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and, in the event of such cancellation, CONTRACTOR, shall have the right to remove from the Area all its personal property.
   

2. If the GOVERNMENT deems that one of the aforesaid causes (other than a force majeure cause referred to in Article XXIII) exists to cancel this Agreement, the GOVERNMENT shall give CONTRACTOR ninety (90) days written notice personally served on CONTRACTOR's General Manager, in the legally official manner and receipt of which is acknowledged by him or by his legal agents, to remedy and remove such cause. But if for any reason such service is impossible due to un-notified change of address, publication in the Official Journal of the GOVERNMENT of such notice shall be considered as valid service upon CONTRACTOR. If at the end of the said ninety (90) days notice period such cause has not been remedied and removed, this Agreement may be canceled forthwith by Order or Presidential Decree as aforesaid. Provided however, that if such cause, or the failure to remedy or remove such cause, results from any act or omission of one party, cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective only against that party and not as against any other party hereto.
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ARTICLE XXIII
FORCE MAJEURE



1. The non-performance or delay in performance by EGAS and CONTRACTOR, or either of them, of any obligation under this Agreement shall be excused if, and to the extent that, such non-performance or delay is caused by force majeure. The period of any such non-performance or delay, together with such period as may be necessary for the restoration of any damage done during such delay, shall be added to the time given in this Agreement for the performance of such obligation and for the performance of any obligation dependent thereon and consequently, to the term of this Agreement, but only with respect to the Exploration or Development Block(s) affected.
2. "Force Majeure" within the meaning of this Article XXIII, shall be any act of God, insurrection, riot, war, strike, and other labor disturbance, fires, floods or any cause not due to the fault or negligence of EGAS and CONTRACTOR or either of them, whether or not similar to the foregoing; provided that any such cause is beyond the reasonable control of EGAS and CONTRACTOR, or either of them.
3. The GOVERNMENT shall incur no responsibility whatsoever to EGAS and CONTRACTOR, or either of them, for any damages, restrictions or losses arising in consequence of such case of force majeure hereinafter referred to in this Article.
4. If the force majeure event occurs during the first Exploration period or any extension thereof and continues in effect for a period of six (6) months, CONTRACTOR shall have the option upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to EGAS to terminate its obligations hereunder without further liability of any kind.
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ARTICLE XXIV
DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION

1. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, between the GOVERNMENT and the parties shall be referred to the jurisdiction of the competent courts in A.R.E. and shall be finally settled by such courts.
2. Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, between EGAS and CONTRACTOR shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration (the “Center”) in effect on the date of this Agreement. The award of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the parties.
3. The number of arbitrators shall be three (3).
4. Each party shall appoint one (1) arbitrator. If, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the claimant's notification of the appointment of an arbitrator the respondent has not notified the claimant in writing of the name of the arbitrator he appoints, the claimant may request the Center to appoint the second arbitrator.
5. The two (2) arbitrators thus appointed shall choose the third arbitrator who shall act as the presiding arbitrator of the tribunal. If within thirty (30) days after the appointment of the second arbitrator, the two arbitrators have not agreed upon the choice of the presiding arbitrator, then either party may request the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, the Netherlands to designate the appointing authority. Such appointing authority shall appoint the presiding arbitrator in the same way as a sole arbitrator would be appointed under Article 6.3 of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Such presiding arbitrator shall be a person of a nationality other than the A.R.E or the CONTRACTOR’s nationality(ies) and of a country which has diplomatic relations with both the A.R.E. and the CONTRACTOR’s country(ies) and who has no economic interest in the Petroleum business of the signatories hereto.
6. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties to the arbitration, the arbitration, including the making of the award, shall take place in Cairo, A.R.E.
7. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding upon the Parties, including the arbitration fees and all related issues and the execution of the arbitrators decision shall be referred to the competent courts according to the Egyptian laws.
8. Egyptian law shall apply to the dispute except that in the event of any conflict between Egyptian laws and this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement (including the arbitration provision) shall prevail. The arbitration shall be conducted in both English and Arabic languages.
9. If, for whatever reason, arbitration in accordance with the above procedure can not take place, EGAS and CONTRACTOR will transfer all disputes, controversies or claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof shall be settled by ad hoc arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in effect on the Effective Date.
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ARTICLE XXV
STATUS OF PARTIES



1. The rights, duties, obligations and liabilities in respect of EGAS and CONTRACTOR hereunder shall be several and not joint or collective, it being understood that this Agreement shall not be construed as constituting an association or corporation or partnership.
2. Each CONTRACTOR Member shall be subject to the laws of the place where it is incorporated regarding its legal status or creation, organization, charter and by-laws, shareholding, and ownership.

   Each CONTRACTOR Member's shares of capital which are entirely held abroad shall not be negotiable in the A.R.E. and shall not be offered for public subscription nor shall be subject to the stamp tax on capital shares nor any tax or duty in the A.R.E.. CONTRACTOR shall be exempted from the application of Law No. 159 of 1981, as amended.

3. All CONTRACTOR Members shall be jointly and severally liable for the performance of the obligations of CONTRACTOR under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE XXVI
LOCAL CONTRACTORS AND
LOCALLY MANUFACTURED MATERIAL




CONTRACTOR or the Joint Venture Company, as the case may be, and their contractors shall:


1. Give priority to local contractors and sub-contractors, including EGAS' Affiliated Companies, as long as their performance is comparable with international performance and the prices of their services are not higher than the prices of other contractors and sub-contractors by more than ten percent (10%).
2. Give preference to locally manufactured material, equipment, machinery and consumables as long as their quality and time of delivery are comparable to internationally available material, equipment, machinery and consumables. However, such material, equipment, machinery and consumables may be imported for operations conducted hereunder if the local price of such items at CONTRACTOR's or the Joint Venture Company's operating base in the A.R.E. is more than ten percent (10%) higher than the price of such imported items before customs duties, but after transportation and insurance costs have been added.
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ARTICLE XXVII
TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT




The Arabic version of this Agreement shall, before the competent courts of A.R.E., be referred to in construing or interpreting this Agreement; provided, however, that in any arbitration pursuant to Article XXIV herein above between EGAS and CONTRACTOR