Eight E&P cos interested to acquire exploration blocks: Update

Eight oil and gas companies, including U.S.-based ConocoPhillips (COP), are applying for exploration and production licenses for blocks in Indonesia, a government official said Wednesday.

Iin Arifin Takhyan, director general of oil and gas at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, told Dow Jones Newswires that the other companies include Malaysia's Genting Oil Limited, and Singapore-based PEARL Oil Limited.

He added that the eight companies had selected the blocks they were applying for.

No.	Working Area	Location	Company
1.	Offshore Anambas	Riau	Genting Oil (Malaysia)
2.	Onshore Palmerah	South Sumatra	ConocoPhillips
3.	Offshore Biliton	Bangka Belitung	Mitra Archipelago, PT
4.	Onshore Bangkanai	East Kalimantan	Kali Prada Mulia, PT
5.	Offshore Bontang	East Kalimantan	Eksindo Petroleum Tabulan
6.	Offshore Halmahera	Maluku	Tri Visindo, PT
7.	Offshore Salawati	Papua	Pearl Oil Limited
8.	Onshore Asmat	Papua	Indonesia Papua Petroleum, PT

The government, however, will offer the blocks through an open bidding process to see whether other companies are interested before deciding to award the blocks to the eight companies, Iin said.

"If no other companies are interested in the blocks, then we will award each of the blocks to the eight companies," he added. (godang)