Chevron, Mitsui win Thai petroleum concession bids

BANGKOK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Chevron Corp (CVX.N) and Japan's Mitsui & Co (8031.T) were among the winning bidders for rights to explore offshore blocks in Thailand's latest round of bidding, the Energy Ministry said on Tuesday.

The government also gave concessions to London-listed Salamander Energy (SMDR.L) and TPI Polene TPIP.BK as it allocated rights to explore five onshore and two offshore blocks in the first round of submissions, it said in a statement.

Other winners were Australia's Twinza Oil Ltd, Tatex Thailand LLC, Thai Petrochemical Industry and a consortium of Harrods Natural Resources (Thailand) Ltd and PTT Exploration & Production (PTTE.BK), Total Korat Co Ltd and BG Thailand Pte Ltd.

A consortium including Chevron Petroleum (Thailand) and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co was granted the rights to offshore Block G4/50.

Offshore Block G9/50 was awarded to a consortium of Harrods Natural resources (Thailand) Ltd and PTT Exploration & Production Thai, Total Korat and BG Thailand Pte Ltd.

Onshore Block L26/50 went to Salamander Energy (E&P) Ltd, L7/50 Block was granted to Twinza Oil, Tatex Thailand's L16/50 Block, Thai Petrochemical Industry got L36/50 and the L37/50 Block was granted to TPI Polene Power Ltd.

In the first submission round, 28 firms submitted 41 bids to explore 21 blocks -- 14 onshore and seven offshore in the Gulf of Thailand.

In the second round, three groups of investors submitted three bids to explore onshore and offshore blocks. The results were to be announced later, the ministry said without indicating a timeframe ($ 1 = 33.59 Baht) (Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Ploy Chitsomboon; Editing by Michael Battye)