Deadline for oil bids extended

The government has extended the last date of bidding for the 11 oil and gas blocks on offer in the fifth round and decided to merge the next two rounds into one in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The fifth bid round under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) opened in January and was to initially close on March 18. However, earlier this month, the bid date was extended to April 16. The new deadline hasn’t been notified yet.

The directorate general of hydrocarbon said, “In view of the lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the last date for bid submission (April 16, 2020) for India OALP bid round-V will be extended. The revised date shall be notified soon.”