Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 -- Indonesia awarded nine oil and gas production-sharing contracts—eight for exploration and one for production—out of 13 blocks offered in the latest bidding round.
ConocoPhillips Co. won the tender for the Amborip VI Block on the Arafura shelf off Papua New Guinea. The remaining concessions went to Indonesian firms.
Other awards went to:
-- Star Energy for the Sebatik Block in East Kalimantan.
-- Zaratex NV for the Lhokseumawe Block in Aceh.
-- PT Sumatra Persada Energi for the West Kampar Block in the Sumatra province of Riau.
-- PT Erry Guna for the Bungamas Block in South Sumatra.
-- PT Commissioning Services Indonesia for the Bengkulu Block in the Sumatra province of Bengkulu.
-- PT Energi Timur Jauh for the Kangean Block in East Java.
-- PT Bumi Parahyangan Renhill Energia for the West Java Citareum Block.
-- BUMD Benuo Taka, a company owned by the Penajam regency in East Kalimantan, for production rights for the province's Wailawi Block.
An oil ministry official said investment from the new exploration and production activities should amount to $102.50 million over the next 3 years.
Of the 13 blocks offered, two failed to attract interest. Bidders for the remaining two did not meet the requirements.
Indonesia plans to offer 14 more oil and gas blocks with a bidding submission deadline in November.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].