Algeria invites bids for oil/gas exploration

ALGIERS (Reuters) – OPEC member Algeria unveiled details of its 7th exploration and production licensing round on Sunday, inviting prequalified companies to bid for acreage with what it called high petroleum potential.

The deadline for bids for 16 zones containing 45 blocks was 1000 (0900 GMT) on 3 December 2008 and the winners would be announced two hours later at 1200 (1100 GMT), a statement on the Energy and Mines Ministry website said.