泰國將于明年公開招標

BANGKOK, Aug 25 (Reuters) – Thailand’s military government plans to open bids in March 2017 for expiring?oil?and gas contracts held by Chevron Corp and PTT Exploration and Production, an energy ministry official said on Thursday.

Chevron’s Thai unit holds concessions to operate the Erawan gas field. PTTEP operates the Bongkot gas field. Contracts for the two offshore fields are due to expire in 2022 and 2023.

They have combined production of 2.2 billion cubic feet per day, or 76 percent of output in the Gulf of Thailand.

Thai authorities are drafting terms and criteria for the auction, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Veerasak Pungrassamee, director general of the ministry’s Department of Mineral Fuels, told reporters.

The winners will be announced in September next year, he said, adding legislators will take three months to amend the energy law, one month longer than planned to make sure of continuity in production.