Tunisia expects granting more than 12 oil, gas exploration licenses in 2005

Tunisian Minister of Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Size Enterprises Afif Chelbi, on Wednesday, expected a number of exploration licenses for oil and other fuel resources in Tunisia would exceed 12 by the end of 2005, registering a new Tunisian record.

In a press conference held today, Chelbi said that he approved six gas and oil exploration licenses during the first half of 2005, noting that usually Tunisia would issue no more than three licenses per year.