Tunisian authorities handed out two exploration permits in September, 2009. On September 11, they granted the Bouhajla Permit, to ETAP as Holder and to DualEX, a Canadian petroleum company, as Contractor. The 416 sq km onshore acreage was granted for an initial period of three years, with two renewal period of three years each, and a commitment of a seismic acquisition and an exploration well for each mentioned period.
On September 18, the acreage known as Chorbane, (which had been converted into an exploration permit from a prospecting permit), was granted to ETAP as Holder and Alpine Oil and Gas, an Australian petroleum company, as Contractor. It is situated in Central Tunisia and covers an acreage of 2428 sqkm. The contract allows an initial period of three years with two renewal periods of three years each, during which the Contractor commitments are to drill an exploration well, each mentioned periods
