Distribution of oil block bidding documents postponed

The distribution of bidding documents on 10 new exploration oil and gas blocks which have been put on offer to investors has been postponed, a senior official said on Thursday.

Director General of Oil and Gas Iin Arifin Takhyan said that the delay was due to the overly tight schedule of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who is on overseas trips to Japan and the U.S.

He, however, refused to say when investors could get bid the bidding papers from his office.

According to the initial schedule, investors were supposed to be able to obtain the bidding documents from Dec. 1, 2003 until May 31, 2004. The bidders are required to resubmit the forms to the government by June 30, 2004.

Meanwhile, Indrajana Chaidir, exploration and production director at the oil and gas directorate general, told Petromindo.com on Thursday that the bidding document could possibly be obtained next week.

The ten oil and gas blocks are Lhokseumawe block on and offshore Lhokseumawe in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam; Ujungkulon block on and offshore Ujungkulon in Banten; North East Madura III, IV and V blocks offshore East Java; Rote I and II blocks offshore Rote island in East Nusatenggara; Babar block offshore Babar island in Maluku; Selaru block offshore Selaru island, Maluku; and Manokwari block on and offshore Berau in Papua. (godang)