Director General of Oil and Gas Iin Arifin Takhyan told the Jakarta Post that a number of companies, Including international giants U.S.-based ConocoPhilips and Malaysian Genting Oil & Gas, had submitted proposals to explore and develop hydrocarbon resources in the blocks.
The government now plans to issue a competitive tender for the blocks in order to maintain transparency in the sector. If no other companies are interested in the blocks, the government would award them to the eight companies.
The eight blocks are in Java, the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea, Central Kalimantan, Papua, Maluku, South Sumatra and East Kalimantan.
A recent competitive tender resulted in the government awarding eight blocks to foreign and local oil and gas companies, bringing a total of $US170 million in fresh investment to the sector.
