Competition among global energy companies over the development rights of gas fields in Myanmar has begun to intensify: more than 60 companies, including oil majors, are bidding for deep-sea mining blocks. Myanmar’s Energy Ministry has initiated the procedures for the international bidding of 30 offshore mining blocks. Among them, 19 are located in the deep sea and have not been explored before. The companies that have applied for bids include Exxon Mobil Corporation, US-based ConocoPhillips, Anglo-Dutch Corporation Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Total SA of France, and ENI SpA of Italy. One company is allowed to bid for up to three mining blocks. The final deadline for bids is November 2013 and the companies that will be granted development rights are expected to be selected in early 2014.
