Bahrain plans to allow international companies to own 100% of oil and natural gas extraction projects in the kingdom, according to an order issued by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Al Khalifa, Reuters reported citing Bahrain News Agency.

For the companies to be qualified, the foreign parent company has to sign an exploration and production (E&P) agreement with the Bahraini government.

Bahrain aims at increasing production from conventional and unconventional reserves, as evident by the country’s first shale oil project, which is expected to begin production in Q4 2019.