Cyprus Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Praxoulla Antoniadou said on Monday that the Cypriot Council of Minister would discuss in the coming days a proposal for the commencement of the preparatory work for the second licensing round for hydrocarnons exploration blocks in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone.

Speaking to the press at the sidelines of the Economist Conference on Sustainable, competitive and secure energy in Europe, Antoniadou said the proposal concerns the preparation of the application forms for the second licensing round.

The Minister refrained from elaborating on the number of blocks of Cyprus` EEZ to be included in the second licensing round, referring to the press release to be issued by the Government.

Along the same line, speaking to the conference, Antoniaou said that the Cypriot government will proceed with the second licensing round for additional blocks in its EEZ, adding that first indications from the exploratory drilling in block 12, which began on 18 September, will be ready by mid December