Coronavirus lockdown extension: Government extends oil block bid deadline to June 10

NEW DELHI: 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 June 10 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 March 18.

However, the bid date was first extended to April 16 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 June 10, 2020,” the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) said in a tweet.