BP, AWE, Ephindo win direct proposal oil, gas blocks tender

The government has picked the winning bidders for oil and gas blocks put on tender under direct proposal, or joint study scheme, a government official told Petromindo.Com on Thursday.

The official said that there were only four blocks taken up, out of six oil and gas blocks put on tender by the government in May 2010.

The official, who declined to be named, said that the Director General of Oil and Gas has selected the winning bidders, but official announcement will be made sometimes this month after approval from the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.

According to the official, the winning bidders are Ephindo Oil & Gas Holding Inc. for North Sokang block in East Natuna-offshore; a consortium of Australian firm AWE Ltd., PT Baruna Recovery Energy and PT Silo Maritime Perdana for Titan block, offshore North East Java Sea; Mitra Energy Ltd for Bone block, offshore Bone, South Sulawesi; British oil giant BP for North Arafura block in Akimeugah, onshore/offshore Papua.

Meanwhile, the two other blocks including NW Natuna Block, offshore East Natuna and Onin Block in Bintuni, -Misoo, onshore/offshore West Papua, had no winning bidders. (godang)