Tripoli is pushing ahead with plans to hold its third oil and gas exploration licensing round since the lifting of international sanctions in 2004, despite recent changes at the top of the country's oil sector. Senior officials attending the latest OPEC meeting in Vienna in mid-March said the round would go ahead some time this year, although they admitted that it would be delayed from its planned date in March while details are finalised. The form of the licensing round, which was originally expected to use the same EPSA IV contract model used in the previous two rounds, has been unclear following recent statements by former oil minister Fathi ben Shatwan suggesting that Tripoli planned to offer concessions to develop existing oil fields (MEED 10:2:06).