Invitation for bids
The New Zealand Government has opened the Block Offer 2019 tender for petroleum exploration permits. Bids are invited from companies with a demonstrated ability to explore for petroleum responsibly.
Bids for exploration permits must show an understanding of the geology of the area and the resource potential they seek to investigate, and include a work programme which lays out the exploration activities they propose to undertake. Bidders must demonstrate they have the technical, financial, health and safety and environmental capability to deliver their proposed work programme.
The Invitation for Bids document sets out for bidders:
- the blocks on offer
- the process for making bids
- information required
- how bids will be evaluated
The areas offered in Block Offer 2019 are restricted to the onshore Taranaki region. Bids can be for a single block or for a combination of contiguous blocks. There is no limit on the number of Bid Areas a bidder may bid for. Each Bid Area must be applied for as a separate bid and a separate application fee is payable.
Block Offer 2019 closed at 5.00pm on 4 November 2020 (New Zealand time). The outcome of Block Offer 2019 will be announced prior to 1 July 2021.