Four companies -- INA, Crodux Derivati Dva, Vermilion Zagreb Exploration and the Hungarian company called Aspect Croatia -- were on Thursday awarded permits for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation at six locations in northwestern and central parts of the country.

Thus, the government issued two permits to INA for two locations, and two permits to Crodux, while the other two companies were given one permit each.

In late October 2018, the government invited applications for seven sites, and offers have been sent for all but one location.

Energy and Environment Protection Minister Tomislav Coric today expressed satisfaction with the fact that everything had passed smoothly to date.

The locations are believed to have 25 exploitation wells, according to the minister.