CAIRO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Egypt has paid $1.5 billion of itsdebt to foreign energy companies, the oil ministry said in astatement on Thursday.
The country's remaining debt to foreign energy firms standsat $4.9 bln after this latest payment, the oil ministry said.
"The government aims to reduce the debt owed to partners inthe oil sector to an appropriate level to motivate them tointensify research and exploration," Oil Minister Sherif Ismailsaid in the statement. (Reporting By Shadi Bushra; Editing by Larry King)