ExxonMobil shortlists Aceh gas block bidders

ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia (EMOI), Indonesian unit of oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. said on Thursday it had shortlisted prospective bidders for its 50 percent non-operating participating interest in Aceh?s Block A gas block from more than a dozen to seven.

EMOI vice president for planning and external relations Maman Budiman told petromindo.com that winning bidder would be announced mid-March. Maman declined to reveal the names of the bidders that were included in the short-list, but he hinted that national companies are among them.

An informed source said that among the bidders is JSX-listed oil and gas firm Medco Energi Internasional Tbk, which will likely team with a company controlled by Aceh tycoon Surya Paloh. The source said another JSX-listed oil firm PT. Energi Mega Persada Tbk, was not in the list.

Block A contains some 500 billion cubic feet of gas reserves and is designated to be sold to Aceh fertilizer maker PT. Pupuk Iskandar Muda (PIM). Operator ConocoPhilips owns the other 50 percent interest in the block. (godang)