Offshore exploration contract may be awarded to ConocoPhillips and Tullow Oil plc may be selected for a shallow-water block, apart from the ones in disputed regions.
Oil and exploration contracts award was pending for long since the Khaleda Zia government (2001-06) suspended decisions on energy issues in the final phase of its rule. The Zia government was followed by a caretaker government (2007-08) that also withdrew from decision-making.
“The government may award only three to four blocks to the two oil companies as it does not want to take any decision right at this moment about the blocks that are in the offshore areas which have also been claimed by India and Myanmar,” an official of the energy division said.
The government will make certain a single company is not awarded too many blocks to keep its options open, officials said.
