Zion Oil and Gas, Inc. announced the filing of an amended application with the Israel Ministry of Energy for a new exploratory license on January 24, 2023 covering the same area as its License No. 428, which expires on February 1, 2023. However, its original application to replace License No.

428 was filed on May 11, 2022, and a revised application was filed on August 29, 2022. With a third parliamentary election in Israel since March 2, 2020, on November 1, 2022, review of Zion's new license application was delayed. After the election, an ongoing transition period has taken place.

A new Minister of Energy took office on January 1, 2023 and appointed a new Director General of the Ministry. As previously reported, Zion has re-examined the logs and other data from its MJ-01 well in preparation for a planned re-entry. Zion's license application was therefore amended to address the planned re-entry, requiring a change in the workplan portion of the application, and then re-submitted on January 24, 2023.

Since May of 2022, Zion has worked closely with all the necessary Ministry officials to address questions and resolve any issues raised by its application. Zion therefore believes it has met all of the preliminary license requirements. Although no assurances can be made, Zion anticipates its amended license application will be favorably considered by the Ministry and other necessary regulatory agencies.

In the interim, Zion plans to leave its I-35 drilling rig and all related components on its current pad site and perform necessary rig maintenance, engineering and design for the planned re-entry.