Energy Ministry Delays 2005-2006 Bid Round to May 30

BNAmericas

Trinidad & Tobago's ministry of energy and energy industries (MEEI) has extended the deadline to receive bids on its 2005-2006 round for onshore/nearshore blocks and shallow marine blocks to May 30 from March 30, a ministry spokesperson told BNamericas.

The tender launched in January this year is for eight blocks in the Combined Southern basin land acreage, South Coast Marine Area and three blocks in the Shallow Marine Acreage off the north and east coasts of Trinidad.

The deadline was extended to May 30 because the tender began later than expected and companies did not have sufficient time to analyze the data, the spokesperson said.

The eight onshore/nearshore blocks include shallow and deep horizon areas in each of the Guayaguayare, Southwest Peninsula, Herrera and Central Range blocks.

The shallow marine blocks are 2(ab), comprising an area of 1,605 sq km, NCMA 2 and NCMA 3, both covering an area of 1,019 sq km. The three blocks have water depths ranging from 25-130 meters.

Companies intending to bid on any of the blocks referred to above will be required to pay a pre-bid application fee. This fee entitles the prospective bidder to the relevant data package, which contains 2D seismic lines and well data on the respective blocks.

The fee is US$150,000 to bid on any or all of the combined onshore/nearshore blocks and US$50,000 each for the three shallow marine blocks.

DEEP ATLANTIC TENDER

The energy ministry also plans to launch a separate tender for eight offshore blocks in the deep Atlantic by end-March. The bidding process will close August 1, the spokesperson said.

The 800 sq km blocks are located off the east coast of Trinidad and are 1,700-2,500 meters deep.

Several international companies with Caribbean operations have expressed their interest such as US oil company EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG), Anglo-Australian resources company BHP Billiton (LSE: BHP) and UK oil majors BP (NYSE: BP) and BG Group (LSE: BG).

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