Will the MH370 search go on?

A Malaysia Airlines towelette, which washed up on a WA beach is now being investigated in connection with missing aircraft, MH370. Courtesy: Channel Nine/The TODAY Show

Endless hunt ... the MH370 search area covers 60,000 square kilometres. Source: Supplied

IN JUST over a fortnight, key ministers from Australia, Malaysia and China will meet to decide if the search for MH370 should go on.

The tripartite meeting in Kuala Lumpur will consider the feasibility of expanding the current underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean, where the aircraft is believed to have crashed.

Other options to be considered remain unclear with authorities insisting they are looking in the right place for the Boeing 777.

MH370 decision makers ... Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss with Malaysian Transport Minister Dato Sri Liow Tiong Lai and Chinese Vice-Minister of Transport He Jianzhong. Source: News Corp Australia

Almost two-thirds of the Federal Government's budget for the MH370 search is yet to be spent, leaving a sizeable sum for further investigations into the plane's disappearance.

A total of $89.9 million was allocated in last year's budget for the complex underwater search now into its sixth month.

To date, $30 million has been spent on the search and related costs with Malaysia's Government pitching in an equivalent sum.

The money has been split between the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, plus set up costs for the Joint Agency Coordination Centre.

A spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said the final bill would depend on a number of factors "including the outcome of procurement processes for specialist services and the length of the search".

Committed ... Warren Truss has indicated Australia will leave no stone unturned to find MH370. Pic by Gary Ramage/News Corp Australia Source: News Corp Australia

Next month's meeting will decide the next step should MH370 not be found in the primary search area, he said.

"There are sufficient funds from our end should the ministers agree to continue beyond the current search area," said the spokesman.

So far, more than half of the 60,000 square kilometre search zone has been scoured by vessels towing sensitive underwater sonar scan equipment.

Hard slog ... Fugro Discovery experiencing bad weather in the search for MH370. Picture: ABIS Chris Beerens, RAN. Source: Supplied

Every day, 24-hours of data collected from the equipment is sent back to an office in Perth for further analysis but as yet no trace of the plane has been found.

The Malaysia Airlines' jet disappeared on March 8, 2014 after going offcourse less than an hour into a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

There were 239 people on board including six Australians.

Although there has been official explanation for the plane's disappearance, a report released by the Malaysian Government this month indicated there was no reason to suspect foul play by the pilot or co-pilot.

Still missing ... a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 similar to the one that disappeared on March 8, 2014. Source: AFP

The report did reveal a large shipment of lithium ion batteries on board the plane had not been security screened prior to loading.

US and Australian carriers have now banned shipments of lithium ion batteries in the cargo holds of passenger and freight planes after studies found they were flammable when overheated.

Passengers are still permitted to carry mobile phones, ipads and laptops powered by lithium ion batteries.