Energean gets extra year to explore Montenegro's offshore oil and gas blocks

Montenegro, which is hoping to find oil and gas reserves off its coast, said on Friday it has extended Energean Oil & Gas's licence by a year to explore two blocks as the Greek company required more time.

Montenegro awarded Energean a 30-year oil and gas exploration licence in 2017 for the blocks covering a combined 338 square kilometers in the Adriatic Sea's shallow waters.

Under the original deal, the research phase was due to last for seven years, with two research periods of three and four years.

"Considering that the concessionaire needed more time for additional research and that he fulfilled all obligations from the work program, the extension of the first research period... was approved," Montenegro's government said in a statement.

Montenegro, a candidate for European Union membership, produces no oil but initial data has indicated it might have...