The government has extended the last date of bidding for the 11 oil and gas blocks on offer in the fifth exploration bid round to 10 June in view of the COVID-19 lockdown in the country. The fifth bid round under Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) opened in January and was to initially close on 18 March. However, the bid date was first extended to 16 April and then late last month, it was extended again but no closing deadline was given.
"The bid submission date for India OALP Bid Round-V, offering 11 blocks for exploration and development, is extended to 10 June, 2020," the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) said in a tweet.
Late last month, DGH said that in view of the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the OALP bid Round-V last date for bid submission will be extended. The revised date was to be notified later.
So far, the government has awarded 94 blocks in four rounds in the last two-and-a-half years. These 94 blocks cover an exploratory area of about 1,36,800 square kilometers over 16 Indian sedimentary basins.
In the latest bid round, about 19,800 sq km of area is on offer for bidding, according to DGH.
