Chevron Expands Mediterranean Exploration With Offshore Study Licence In Malta

Global energy company Chevron has been granted an exploration study licence covering four offshore areas south of the country. The agreement, signed on 24 April, marks Chevron’s entry into Malta’s upstream sector and extends a Mediterranean portfolio that already spans Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt.

The licence covers Areas 1, 4, 5, and 7, and allows Chevron to carry out geological and geophysical desktop studies using existing data. This phase represents an initial step in assessing hydrocarbon potential and does not involve offshore drilling, with the work programme drawing on seismic and subsurface information already gathered in the region.

Chevron’s broader Mediterranean footprint includes operating stakes in Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar gas fields, the Aphrodite field being developed offshore Cyprus, and exploration blocks offshore Greece and Egypt. Adding Malta to this regional portfolio places the country firmly on the Mediterranean energy map, alongside established producers Libya, Italy, and Tunisia. The expansion underlines the strategic value major energy companies are placing on the central Mediterranean basin as new opportunities continue to emerge.

Kevin McLachlan, Chevron’s Vice President of Exploration, described the move as an exciting opportunity to expand the company's presence in the Mediterranean. He added Chevron would collaborate with Malta's Continental Shelf Department to evaluate prospects in the licensed areas, drawing on the company's technical expertise and global experience in oil and gas development.