A hydrocarbon exploration permit, known as "Hezoua" has been granted to Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières, the permit holder, and Hunt Oil Company of Tunisia, the contractor, under an order by the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy dated February 20, instituting this permit, published in the Official Journal of Tunisia (French: JORT). The concession is located in the Tozeur governorate and covers a total area of 8,536 km2. It has been granted for a period of three and a half years, from December 24, 2023 to June 23, 2027. "The contractor, Hunt Oil Company of Tunisia, is required to fulfil all of its contractual obligations during the term of the permit, which include the drilling of an exploration well to a minimum depth of 3,500 metres at a total estimated minimum cost of USD 6,500,000 and the drilling of an optional well. Also in today's JORT, an order of the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy dated 20 February 2024 was published. The order extends the term of the fourth extension of the hydrocarbon exploration permit 'Zarat'. "The period of validity of the fourth extension of this permit is extended by two years, from August 12, 2023 to August 11, 2025, in favour of Entreprise Tunisienne d'Activités Pétrolières. "During the period of validity of the permit, ETAP must fulfil all its contractual obligations relating to the drilling of an exploration well and geological and geophysical studies, the total cost of which is estimated to be at least ten million US dollars". Finally, a third order issued by the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy on February 20, 2024 extends the validity of the initial term of the "Nefzaoua" hydrocarbon exploration permit. "The validity of the initial term of this permit is extended by two years in favour of ETAP and the company YNG Energy Limited, from December 22, 2023 to December 21, 2025. YNG Energy Limited is obliged to fulfil all its obligations in relation to the work programme during the period of validity of the permit, as follows: Acquisition, processing and interpretation of 258 km2 of 3D seismic, acquisition of 70 km of 2D seismic, acquisition of 50 km of 2D seismic or its 3D equivalent and drilling of two exploration wells. The minimum total cost of the work programme is estimated to be US$23,800,000. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse