OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2013. The Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy awarded shares in four exploration licences to GDF SUEZ, within the " Awards in Predefined Areas (APA) round " 2012. In total, 40 companies were awarded 51 new licences.

Within the four licences attributed to GDF SUEZ, two are located in the North Sea and two in the Norwegian Sea.

This success demonstrates the long–term commitment of GDF SUEZ in the Norwegian upstream sector, where the Group is present since 2001. GDF SUEZ E&P Norge is the operator of the Gjoa oil and gas field since January 2011 and is a partner in producing Fram, Njord, Snohvit, Vega South fields as well as the Gudrun and Hyme fields, currently under development.

Norway represented 39% of production and 42% of proven and probable reserves of GDF SUEZ at the end of 2011.

In addition to the producing fields, GDF SUEZ has a substantial exploration portfolio on the Norwegian continental shelf. The new licences are:

North Sea:

686 – block 36/4

GDF SUEZ 20%

687 – block 35/3, 36/1

GDF SUEZ 20%

Norwegian Sea:

700 – block 6406/11, 6406/12

GDF SUEZ 20%

701 – block 6406/9, 6406/11, 6406/12

GDF SUEZ 30%