Government to tender 15 oil and gas blocks next week

After a delay of more than five months, the government will finally launch the tender for 15 new oil and gas blocks to investors next week, Bisnis Indonesia reported on Wednesday.

Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Iin Arifin Takhyan, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the tender of the 15 oil and gas blocks had been delayed for about five years because there was a need for in-depth consultation with provincial administrations about the development of the oil and gas blocks in their respective provinces.

"The consultation has been completed, including that with North Sumatra province. We are now ready to launch the tender in the middle of January (this month)," he was quoted as saying. He added that the 15 oil and gas blocks would be offered to investors through a direct appointment.

The ministry initially planned to launch the tender of the 15 oil and gas blocks in September, last year as part of the government's program to tender about 70 oil and gas blocks during the year.

In July, the government offered 14 oil blocks through a regular tender, including six blocks in Makassar Strait, three blocks in offshore West Natuna, another three blocks in offshore East Natuna, two blocks in offshore Lampung, 2 blocks in offshore Arafura, one block in offshore East Kalimantan and another one in offshore/onshore Buton.

The government, however, has yet to announce the winners of the oil and gas blocks. (*)