Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. Mohamed Shainee has said that a company from Norway would be visiting the Maldives on 9 September to do a detailed research for oil in the country. Speaking at a press conference at Velaanaage today, Minister Dr. Shainee said that two companies have shown interest due to evidence of oil in the Maldives. “We are negotiating with two foreign companies to find oil.” Minister Dr. Shainee said. An English company interested in the search for oil in the Maldives have visited the country this month and submitted a proposal. Minster Dr. Shainee said that the project for finding oil would be tasked to the best party. The companies interested in the project are a Norwegian company and the English company, Zebra Data Sciences Ltd. The Minister said that it is yet unclear when a full report of the study would be available. “That information is something that is difficult to say an exact time or date. Because if we find a usable reserve when we first look, that work is done.” Minister Dr. Shainee. Minister said that if the oil is found in the first area of search, other areas would also be searched. Minister Shainee has previously said that a research done by the University of Hamburg has shown that the Maldives have shown “close to 100 percent” that there is oil in the Maldives.