The announcement was made by Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, during his year-end report. "In 2004 there will be 17 blocks waiting for investors," said Yusgiantoro.
To the country's Director General of Oil and Gas Affairs, Iin Arifin Takhyan, this move is being seen as a good sign and that "Indonesia's oil and gas sector was still attractive to investors as it had bright prospects."
The 10 blocks open for tender will be Lhokseumawe (Aceh), Ujung Kulon (Banten), Madura III-V (East Java), Tote I-II (East Nusa Tenggara), Babar & Selaru (Maluku), and Manokwari (Papua).
The seven blocks that will be offered as direct offers are Bulungan, Nunukan, Tigau and East Ambalat (East Kalimantan), Seruai (Aceh), Lubuk Linggau (South Sumatra) and Boven Digul (Papua).
