The oil activities in Upper Egypt goes at steady pace, head of the Egyptian Ganoub El Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) Abu Bakr Ibrahim said Saturday.

A development strategy is in place to increase oil activities in Upper Egypt, Ibrahim added during a visit paid by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tariq al Mulla to Abou Redis city, South Sinai.

Five new areas have been assigned for research and exploration of crude oil and natural gas in the context of low global prices, the Ganope chairman said.