Indonesia’s bid round extended

Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has again moved back the deadline for the country’s bid round, which is now set for December 31, international media reported over the weekend.

The rescheduling is a response to the government’s failure to pass revised tax regulations that operators would need to consider potential proposals.

A total of 10 conventional blocks are on offer, with three being auctioned under a regular tender, while the rest will be subject to a direct bidding process.

The assets available for direct bidding include Andaman I and Andaman II off Aceh, South Tuna in the Natuna Sea, Merak Lampung in offshore and onshore areas of Banten-Lampung, Pekawai off East Kalimantan, West Yamdena in offshore and onshore areas of Maluku, and Kasuri III onshore West Pa. Interested operators originally had until mid-July to submit direct tender applications.

The assets available under the regular tendering process include East Tanimbar off Maluku, Memberamo in onshore and offshore areas of Papua, and Tongol in the Natuna Sea. The deadline for this bidding process was originally set for September 26.

All blocks available in this licensing round are subject to Indonesia’s recently introduced gross split model, commonly seen as better than the PSC model.