The Calgary-headquartered company said that formal publication of the ministerial and presidential approvals for the extensions completed the change to the new deadlines for the Ambilobe and Ampasindava production sharing contracts.

Sterling Energy executive chairman Alastair Beardsall said the extensions came as “work continues on understanding the sub-surface potential of these two very large, undrilled exploration areas”.

The explorer and Pura Vida have extended the second exploration phase at their 50/50-owned Ambilobe PSC where 3D seismic acquisition is expected to start next month.