“Trans Global started work Sunday (8 November) at [the] Assal area [in] the Dead Sea and has reached an agreement with NRA under which the company has the right to look for oil in three wells within a period of three months starting on August 16,” said NRA director general Maher Hijazin.

“The company was given an extra period of another three months under a bail of US$250,000 that should be paid by the company if it does not start its digging operations before mid of November. [Trans Global] has got the NRA approval to start the biggest-ever oil exploration program in Jordan.”