Govt may release bid documents for new blocks within two weeks: Official

Investors interested in the new 17 oil and gas blocks being offered by the government may be able to pick up bid documents for the concession areas within two weeks, a senior official of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told Petromindo.Com on Tuesday.

The ministry is still struggling to finalize the documents following a proposal from the customs and excise office to include a clause that import tax be imposed on goods used for oil and gas mining activities, Novianto Thaib, director of oil and gas exploration and production said.

In the previous bid documents, oil and gas contractors are exempted from such taxes.

The government has yet to make a final decision on the matter, Novianto said.

?The proposal from the custom and excise office remains a crucial point. But, we still hope that the bid documents will be available to investors within two weeks,? he said.

The 17 blocks comprise 10 offered under a normal bidding system and seven offered under a special bidding system. (godang)