Indonesia awards three oil, gas blocks to investors

JAKARTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia has awarded three oil
and gas blocks to several local and foreign firms including
Lundin Petroleum and Salamander Energy , the
energy and mineral resources ministry said on Monday.

Investors are to spend a total of $27.7 million for
exploration which includes a $3.5 million signature bonus for
the government, said Evita Legowo, the director general of oil
and gas at the the ministry.

Indonesia has turned into a net importer of crude oil in
recent years as production has slumped after a failure to tap
new fields fast enough. The country has been offering new
exploration rights and financial incentives for oil fields in
a bid to stem the steady decline in production.

Following are the names of the oil and gas blocks offered
and the companies they were awarded to:
BLOCK COMPANIES
* Sokang Ephindo Oil and Gas

Inc
* South Sokang Consortium of Lundin

and Salamander Energy
* Wokam II Murphy Overseas

Venture

(Reporting by Rieka Rahadiana; Writing by Fitri Wulandari;
Editing by Neil Chatterjee)