Report says Gov?t awards BP, Conoco exploration rights

Indonesia said on Monday it had awarded oil giants BP and Conoco oil and gas exploration rights for two out of nine blocks opened for tender earlier this year, Reuters reported.

The report quoted a government sources who declined to be named said that government awarded Bawean Block in East Java to BP and the Nila Block in the Natuna Sea to Conoco,'' a mines and energy official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

``We will sign the production sharing contract with them as soon as possible,'' he added.

The government originally planned to announce winners for the nine blocks by the end of July but said it needed more time to evaluate bids.

Indonesia opened tenders for the blocks -- including six in the Makassar Strait where California-based Unocal Corp recently found a large oil reserve .

``We are still evaluating the bids for the other areas,'' the official added.

Indonesia's Mines and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said earlier on Monday the government will soon offer an additional 14 areas for tender which it will promote to investors in Houston, Texas.

They include two offshore sites in East Kalimantan and six in the Arafura Sea. (*)