Eric Watkins
Oil Diplomacy Editor
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 -- Daewoo International Corp., under pressure from the government of Bangladesh, has suspended oil and gas exploration in contested waters of the Bay of Bengal.
Daewoo had undertaken exploration in Block AD-7, backed by an agreement with Myanmar. Daewoo's rig, the Trans Ocean Legend, was moved on Nov. 8 to Block A-3, according to Myanmar's state newspaper Myanma Ahlin.
Daewoo's move came after the Bangladeshi naval ship Nirvoy detected four drilling vessels and a tug along with the Trans Ocean Legend in the disputed waters on Nov. 1.
Bangladesh also reinforced troops along the border it shares with Myanmar, and sent a diplomatic team to Yangon to discuss the issue.
The two countries have been holding talks for years to settle their claims in the Bay of Bengal.
Technical delegations from both sides are scheduled to meet in Dhaka Nov. 16-17 to discuss maritime boundary demarcation.
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
