Around seven blocks are located in Tomini Bay and Gorontalo Tomini working areas. The areas are seen as the most promising sites. Gorontalo and Tomini are believed to have large amounts of resources, Evita said.
Evita said proposals for direct appointments would be accepted until July 30, 2009 while regular tender bids would be admitted until October 13, 2009.
The government of Indonesia in 2008 signed 33 contracts worth $912.1 million, covering resources such as oil, natural gas and coal-bed methane.
The contracts comprise 29 oil and natural gas blocks, consisting of 20 direct-offer blocks and nine regular-bid blocks. The worth of blocks is combined $891.8 million, as well as four coal-bed methane projects worth $20.3 million.
Evita said contracts for six blocks now operated by multinational energy firms were due to expire in 2009. The operators are looking for extensions from the government.
PT Pertamina is interested in the Madura Strait and Mahakam blocks, but it is not planning to become a major shareholder, she said.
