CARACAS, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Venezuelan government said Thursday it has decided to extend the oil exploitation agreement with Byelorussia through their joint venture Bielovenezolana. Bielovenezolana was formed by Petroleos de Venezuela and the Byelorussian company Belorusneft.

    The Venezuelan Energy and Oil Ministry announced the decision in its official gazette, which says Bielovenezolana will be allocated new exploitation blocks.

    The gazette says Bielovenezolana will operate the Oritupano Norte oil fields, which include an area of 209.60 square km between Pedro Maria Freites in Anzoategui state and Aguasay en Maturin in Monagas state.

    Oritupano Norte also includes the zones of Simon Rodriguez and San Jose de Guanipa in Anzoategui state totaling 157.59 square km, and block II Lagunilla in Zulia state extending 63.56 square km.

    In 2008, Bielovenezolana extracted 690,000 tons of oil from the fields of Campo Guara Este in Anzoategui and Lago Medio in Zulia.

    The company is currently producing some 10,000 barrels of crude oil a day, according to Venezuela's official figures.