Two foreign companies have applied for permission to research and extract gold from Egypt, revealed sources inside the General Authority for Mineral Resources. The companies, Russian gold mining company Fritks and a Canadian company, have each sent requests to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) for approval. The SCAF, the Council of Ministers and the State Council approved the contracts and a law was issued to regulate the companies' work. The investment stopped, however, after the dissolution of the Egyptian parliament. The sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the two companies obtained permission over land through an international bid in 2009, which was approved by the Council of Ministers and the State Council. The projects came to a halt when the People's Assembly and Shura Council were dissolved after the January 25 Revolution, causing a loss up to U.S. $25 million.