Israel hands out 20 new exploration licences

Israel's offshore play is set to become a hive of activity after the country's Crude Oil Council handed out 20 new exploration licences. The council said 54 % of Israel's territorial waters is now earmarked for exploration.
Following the success of the Tamar-1 find, the council, a division of the National Infrastructure Ministry, recommended further exploration. The council also recommended issuing a licence to Negev Oil & Shale to produce shale oil in the Rotem area in the country's south.

All licences must be approved by the minister and the relevant legal authorities within the ministry, a report said.