Bulgaria's government said on Wednesday it decided to launch a tender for an oil and gas exploration permit in the northwestern part of the country.
The five-year permit for the 1-25 Vratsa-west block, with an area of 4,886 sq km, can be extended twice by two years, the government press office said in a statement.
The launch of the tender is prompted by investor interest, it added.
Interested parties can submit applications to participate in the tender within 140 days after the tender notice has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and file their offers within 155 days after the tender publishing date.
The offers will be evaluated according to the proposed work programmes, environmental protection funding, bonuses, training, and managerial and financial capacity of the applicants.
Diversifying energy supplies is a strategic goal for Bulgaria's government. The country imports about 90% of the natural gas it needs from Russia through a pipeline crossing the territories of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.
(SeeNews)
