Few investors interested in 17 oil blocks: Official

Few investors have expressed interest to bid for oil and gas exploration on 17 blocks tendered by the government in early 2002, oil and gas director general Rachmat Sudibyo told Petromindo.com on Tuesday.

?Obviously, we have not got adequate response from investors. It is not like when we tendered Makassar oil block,? Rachmat said. .

The 17 oil and gas blocks are located in Natuna Sea (1), Central and offshore East Kalimantan (3), South Sulawesi (2), Seram, Maluku (2), Arafura Sea offshore Papua (6), and Makassar Straits (3).

Rachmat however refused to mention the names of the investors intending to bid for the blocks.

Late last year, Pertamina awarded six oil blocks in Makassar Straits to Amerada Hess, TotalFinaElf, Zodan N.V. and Zudani N.V. Also, Pertamina then signed contracts with BP and Conoco respectively for oil blocks in East Java and Natuna. (Godang)