Oil and gas blocks? tender was not transparent: IPA

The Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA, which groups oil and gas contractors and service companies operating in the country, said the tender process for oil and gas blocks was not transparent, Bisnis Indonesia reported in its Monday edition.

IPA?s executive director Suyitno Patmosukismo said that technically, the directorate general of oil and gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources had the authority to offer oil and gas contracts to investors.

?It is still difficult to get the data (regarding oil and gas tender). IPA has urged the government to clarify the issue and suggested that the government be more transparent,? Suyitno said recently after attending a training session for journalists at the upstream oil and gas regulating authority BP Migas.

He mentioned that oil and gas contractors needed clear information on tender schedule and several types of informatios regarding the blocks, including their location maps.

Furthermore, Suyitno said the selection of tender winners is not open to the public, which potentially raises questions among the oil and gas businessmen.

?We know each other. Thus, it is possible that we know what our rivals can offer in the tender, and what are their commitment. Therefore, ..the procedure and the data should be unveiled to the public more transparently,? Suyitno said.

Meanwhile, director of exploration and exploitation at the directorate general of oil and gas Novian M. Thaib denied the allegations that it was very difficult to get the data regarding the offer.

He said all informatin regarding the tender and the blocks are available in the bid info documents, which are limited in number and should be bought by interested parties. (*)