By Oleg Vukmanovic and Sarah McFarlane
MILAN/LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Egypt is due to settle aclosely watched tender for the purchase of 45 liquefied naturalgas (LNG) cargoes this weekend after concluding talks with up toseven winning suppliers, covering much of the country'snear-term energy needs.
The companies that have been invited to meet with state-runEgypt Natural Gas Holding Company on Sunday are Trafigura, Vitol, Noble Group, EDF Trading, GasNatural, PetroChina and Shell,trade sources said.
"The award has basically been made and the relevantcompanies were contacted this week," a source said, adding thatdetails have yet to be ironed out.
(Editing by David Evans)