A new round of bidding for exploration and production licences for 22 onshore and offshore oil and gas sites with a combined area of 43,000 square kilometers will be called in the midddle of the year, the director-general of Department of Mineral Fuels said.
Songpop Polachan said on Monday the 21st bidding round was originally planned for early this year but was postponed because Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal wanted to first ensure the public understand the country's need to seek new energy sources.
Mr Songpop said the department would explain the current energy situation to the people, and that domestic energy reserves continue to decrease, especially known natural gas supplies from the Gulf of Thailand which were likely to be exhausted in the next 10 years.
"Now we must give the public as much information as we can, through community radio stations and provincial energy officials, because there are groups protesting against the [new] concession bidding round, citing environmental concerns," Mr Songpop said.
The 21st round would make available 22 blocks for exploration - 11 in the Northeast, six in the Central Plains and five in the Gulf of Thailand.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/02/25/new-oil-gas-drilling-licences-mid-year/
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