Tethys Petroleum’s wholly-owned Kazakh subsidiary, TethysAralGaz LLP (TAG), has received permission from the energy ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan to extend the Kyzyloi gas production contract for another 15 years, from June 14, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2029, a news release said.

The ministry granted the extension following the Kazakh State Reserves Committee's (GKZ) approval of the new state reserves for Kyzyloi previously announced in May 2014. The Kyzyloi contract area has been increased by 56% to 449 sq km (173 sq miles) and now encompasses a larger gas-bearing area including the AKK05 well (to be worked over later in first-quarter 2015) and the AKK08 & AKK10 gas wells, the release said.