Thailand's latest licensing round pulls in only three bids
Thailand has attracted only three bids in its latest bidding round for petroleum prospecting licenses (OGJ, May 25, 1998, p. 17).
The three bidders in the country's 17th licensing round were: Santa Fe Energy Resources International; a group comprising Amerada Hess Corp., Kerr-McGee Corp., and Novus Exploration; and Harrods Natural Resources Inc., a company owned by Mohamed Al Fayed.
Santa Fe sought Block B7/38, covering 9,240 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand. The Amerada-led group bid for onshore Block 5541/38 (2,960 sq km) in Khon Kaen in the northeastern region, where the consortium already has two blocks-5340/38 (2,960 sq km) and 5440/38 (2,960 sq km), both in Chaiyaphum. And Harrods Natural Resources bid on Block B2/38 (5,880 sq km) off the Prachuab Khiri Khan coast in the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand.
Nopadon Mantajit, director-general of Thailand's Mineral Resources Department, said the department is evaluating the bids. That process is expected to be completed in July, after which the bids will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.
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