BP confirms to have won E. Java exploration right

Anglo-American energy giant BP Plc confirmed on Thursday that Indonesian government had awarded the company oil and gas exploration rights for Bawean Block in East Java as earlier reported by news media.

?Bawean block has been awarded by government to BP. Presently, we are still waiting for the information when the MOU about this block will be signed,? said Amir Hamzah, BP Indonesia?s Government and Media Relations Manager in a statement.

Indonesia opened tenders for nine blocks -- including six in the Makassar Strait where California-based Unocal Corp recently found a large oil reserve -- in February. The government is scheduled to formally announce the tender winner in Houston during Megawati?s Visit to US.

Malaysia national oil firm Petronas together with Amerada Hess also recently announced that they had been awarded Tanjung Aru exploration block in Makassar Strait, while US oil and gas firm Conoco Inc was tipped to have won Nila Block in Natuna Sea. (godang)