BEIRUT, July 1 (Reuters) - Lebanon's energy ministry has extended a deadline for companies to bid for exploration rights for offshore oil and gas fields in its third licensing round, according to an announcement on Monday by the Lebanese Petroleum Administration.

The decision moves the deadline from July 3, 2024 to March 17, 2025, saying that would provide enough time to monitor "accelerating regional and international developments" and find ways of attracting more interest from companies. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Jan Harvey)