Malta offers oil exploration licences - August 24, 2011

The Resources Ministry has issued an international call for applications for oil exploration licences south and west of Malta. Licences are for exploration and exploration and production in Area 1, Area 4, Area 5 and Area 6. The offer closes in...

The Resources Ministry has issued an international call for applications for oil exploration licences south and west of Malta. Licences are for exploration and exploration and production in Area 1, Area 4, Area 5 and Area 6. The offer closes in December.

Mediterranean Oil & Gas and Heritage Oil currently hold oil exploration licences in Maltese waters.

Oil exploration rights in the Mediterranean have been contested between Malta, Italy and Libya.

In March 2008, Libya wrote to Heritage Oil warning it not to carry out any drilling in Area 7 (on the Medina Bank), which the North African state claimed as its own.

Heritage Oil was due to start exploring in Area 7 and Area 2 – to the north of the disputed zone – where it was granted a licence by the Maltese government.

Earlier this year, Malta wrote a formal letter of complaint to Italy after the Italian government offered licences for exploration around the islands of Pantelleria, Linosa and Lampedusa.

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