Montenegro
’s economy ministry said on Tuesday it has launched
preliminary negotiations with bidders in a tender to concession off offshore
oil and gas exploration blocks.
In May, the economy ministry said bids in the tender have been filed by three
partnerships - Marathon Oil Corporation and OMV; Eni S.p.A. and Novatek; and
Energean Oil &Gas and Mediterranean Oil&Gas.
The talks launched last week focus on issues defined in the tender documents as
negotiable, the economy ministry said in a statement.
After the completion of negotiations, a report on the tender process will be
handed over to the government as well as concession agreementdraft
proposals while the final decision will be taken by the Montenegrin parliament.
In December, the government said that the negotiations are expected to be
completed by the end of February at the latest.
The decision on defining blocks for the award of concession contracts for
production of hydrocarbons off
Montenegro
includes 13 blocks covering 3,191 sq km.