There was a lukewarm response to Cyprus's search for oil and gas deposits, with only three applications for exploration licenses submitted before the deadline passed on Thursday.
The commerce and industry ministry later announced that the applicants were a Texas-based energy firm and a British-Norwegian-UAE consortium, none of which have been named for confidentiality reasons.
"In total, three applications were submitted for three different exploration blocks," a ministry statement said.
"An application to explore one block was from a company in the United States, while two applications were submitted from a consortium consisting of three companies from Norway, Britain and the United Arab Emirates."
The government said it was satisfied with the interest shown but expected "livelier interest" in the second phase of licensing, when three-dimensional surveys would be completed.
Commerce ministry official Solon Kasinis told state radio earlier Thursday the government would be "satisfied with four to five applications" to explore 11 of the 13 blocks within Cyprus's exclusive economic zone.
Despite the keen interest reportedly shown in securing a license, none of the major multinationals put in a bid, and expected interest from China and Russia did not materialise.
A decision on the successful bids will be made by the end of the year, and the second round will be launched in 2008.
Cyprus has warned that Turkey's continued threats over oil exploration could mean obstacles being placed in the path of across Ankara's EU accession bid.
Last week, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said Turkey could not continue trying to derail Cyprus' oil search by threateningly demanding it stop the venture.
Ankara has reiterated that it will secure its "legal rights and interests" in the region if Cyprus proceeds with oil and gas exploration off its southern shores.
And the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognised only by Ankara, has also spoken out.
Presidential spokesman Hasan Ercakica said last week that "in case such developments continue, it is natural to expect the escalation of tension in the eastern Mediterranean."
February's launch of the licensing round came just two days after Ankara announced its own plans for oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean -- a move that triggered protests from the Cypriot government.
Cyprus is offering licenses for an area of about 70,000 square kilometres (28,000 square miles).
Estimated oil deposits are put at around eight to 10 billion barrels. Indications show that possible hydrocarbon reserves are at depths ranging from 400 to 3,000 metres beneath the sea.
Cyprus has also signed gas and oil exploration and exploitation deals with Cairo and Beirut, triggering strong objections from Ankara.
Turkey has warned Egypt and Lebanon to delay the deals, saying they infringe on the rights of the TRNC.
In reaction, Cyprus lodged protests with the United Nations and the European Union.
Cyprus, an EU member state, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey seized and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup in Nicosia seeking to united the island with Greece.
America and the UK. The "RoC's" best friends
Did I not tell yoou that the US would get it's oil if ther is in fact any...Solution here we come.
