All oil, gas blocks offered through direct offer attract bidders

All of the oil and gas blocks offered through a direct offer tender during the second around of auction in 2009 attracted bidders, according a senior official at the energy and mineral resource ministry.

?It is quite encouraging. Previously only five working areas attracted bidders. Now, all fields attracted bidders,? said Director General of Oil and Gas Evita H. Legowo in Jakarta on Thursday.

She said that her office was verifying whether all companies which had expressed interest to develop the 11 oil and gas blocks were qualified to become operators. ?Hopefully, the results could be announced soon,? Evita added.

In the second round of auction in 2009, the government offered 23 working areas. Elven of them were offered through the direct offer tender (joint study) mechansim, and the other 12 through a regular tender.

The working areas offered through a direct offer mechanism are Puri, Onshore Riau, Sakakemang, Onshore South Sumatra, Sunda Strait I, Offshore West Java, North Madura, Offshore East Java, Karapan, Offshore East Java, Mandala, Offshore East Java, Long Hubung-Long Bagun Onshore East Kalimantan, Malunda, Makasar Strait, Sadang, Makasar Strait, South Mandar, Makasar Strait, South Sageri, Makasar Strait

The result of the regular tender has not been announced as the deadline set for the bidders to file their bids is April 23. (godang).