By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 2 -- The Nigeria-Sao Tome Joint Development Authority (JDA) will offer for bids in December blocks 2, 3, 4, and 6 in the Gulf of Guinea, OPEC News Agency reported.
Alhaji Abubakar Tanko, chairman of the JDA's Joint Ministerial Council, said the invitation to bid marks the opening of second round licensing and end of the first round in which the JDA offered eight blocks and awarded only one. Rights to Block 1 went to ChevronTexaco 50%, ExxonMobil 41%, and Dangote Energy Equity Resources of Norway 9%.
Blocks 5, 8, and 9 will be withheld for technical reasons and because they lie in deeper water, Tanko said (see map, OGJ, Sept. 8, 2003, p. 38).
He added, "The licensing round will be conducted without prejudice to the rights already exercised by the Environmental Remediation Holding Co. and the existing pre-emption rights of ExxonMobil."
Tanko called for the JDA to conclude production-sharing contract negotiations regarding Block 1 by the end of 2004.