FILE PHOTO: A logo of the Exxon Mobil Corp is seen at the Rio Oil and Gas Expo and Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes/File Photo

(Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp said on Monday it had acquired more than 1.7 million acres for exploration offshore Egypt, strengthening its portfolio in the eastern Mediterranean.

Operations at the 1.2 million North Marakia Offshore block located about five miles offshore Egypts northern coast, and 543,000 acres in the North East El Amriya Offshore block in the Nile Delta are scheduled to begin in 2020.

Exxon marked its foray into gas exploration in Egypt by winning awards in one of the countrys largest-ever oil and gas exploration tenders in February.

Egypt Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla had said that the country expects investments of at least $750 million to $800 million in the first stage of exploration in the total of 12 concessions announced in February.

Italys Enis discovery of the giant Zohr field in 2015, the largest in the Mediterranean and estimated to hold about 30 trillion cubic feet of gas, has raised interest in exploration in Egypt, with the country reaching maritime demarcation agreements with several countries in the region.

Reporting by Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Maju Samuel

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Exxon acquires over 1.7 million exploration acreage offshore Egypt - Reuters