Spanish oil major Repsol-YPF SA says drilling in Cuba could begin by the end of next year, according to Miguel Martínez, the company’s chief operating officer. In Cuba, the company holds rights to an offshore exploration block which covers six areas, plus area 35, which are in Cuba’s exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Repsol has a 40% stake in the exploration consortium, while Norway’s Norsk Hydro and India’s ONGC-Videsh each hold 30%.