KUALA LUMPUR (The Star) — Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry has expanded the oil and gas exploration area given to CaspiOilGas LLP (COG), which Sumatec Resources Bhd is in the process of acquiring for $205 mln and extended its mining lease by up to 25 years.

Sumatec, which provides management and oversight of COG’s concession area (i.e. the Rakushechnoye oil and gas field in West Kazakhstan), said that COG planned to drill up to six more new wells within the field apart from the existing drilling plan proposed by Sumatec. [1]

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, Sumatec said COG’s general director Ruslan Keshubayev confirmed that COG had received an official letter from the Energy Ministry extending the exploration area within the Rakushechnoye lease allotment.

Drilling the additional six wells would also entitle Sumatec and COG for a further extension of up to 25 years to the mining lease, it said. COG initially had a 25-year concession expiring in August 2025.

Sumatec officially took over the Rakushechnoye field’s operations in November 2013. Based on Sumatec’s annual report issued in May 20, 2015, it had by then finished drilling eight wells, of which six could be put into production. Sumatec had originally planned to develop up to 10 new wells last year but, due to persistently low oil prices, deferred the plan to 2017 and beyond.