UNB, Dhaka :
The launching of multi-client seismic survey in the Bay within the current year has become uncertain as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently sent back the relevant file to the Energy Ministry for further review of its tender process about selecting a firm for the job.
The Cabinet committee, a highest decision making body, also formed a high-powered 5-member committee headed by Law Minister Anisul Huq to do the review job, according to official sources. Official sources said the Cabinet
Economic Affairs Committee had to take the decision for further review in its meeting on August 3 after facing a stiff opposition from one of its very senior members.
According to sources at the Cabinet body meeting, the senior Cabinet Minister was expressing his resentment as to why an UK-based firm was disqualified at the evaluation stage.
As a result, the Cabinet body has to consider his request to send back the file for further scrutiny.
The idea of multi-client survey is that the selected firm will conduct survey in the country’s maritime boundary at its own cost. But after completion of the survey it will share its findings with state-owned Petrobangla.
But the company will have a right to sell the findings and seismic data to aspirant international oil companies who want to participate in oil and gas exploration in the Bangladesh territory. The Energy Ministry moved for this process because of its cash shortage. Energy industry now believes that after such a decision by the Cabinet body, the whole process has become very complex and it will be very difficult for the Energy Ministry to complete the process of awarding the contract to its selected firm shortly.
“The decision will totally dismantle its plan to appoint an international seismic survey company to start its job within the coming dry season,” said an insider of the energy sector. However, Petrobangla chairman Ishtiak Ahmed, who is also a member of the review committee, told UNB that he is still confident to complete the review process very shortly and appoint a bidder for the job within the targeted timeframe.
The launching of multi-client seismic survey in the Bay within the current year has become uncertain as the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently sent back the relevant file to the Energy Ministry for further review of its tender process about selecting a firm for the job.
The Cabinet committee, a highest decision making body, also formed a high-powered 5-member committee headed by Law Minister Anisul Huq to do the review job, according to official sources. Official sources said the Cabinet
Economic Affairs Committee had to take the decision for further review in its meeting on August 3 after facing a stiff opposition from one of its very senior members.
According to sources at the Cabinet body meeting, the senior Cabinet Minister was expressing his resentment as to why an UK-based firm was disqualified at the evaluation stage.
As a result, the Cabinet body has to consider his request to send back the file for further scrutiny.
The idea of multi-client survey is that the selected firm will conduct survey in the country’s maritime boundary at its own cost. But after completion of the survey it will share its findings with state-owned Petrobangla.
But the company will have a right to sell the findings and seismic data to aspirant international oil companies who want to participate in oil and gas exploration in the Bangladesh territory. The Energy Ministry moved for this process because of its cash shortage. Energy industry now believes that after such a decision by the Cabinet body, the whole process has become very complex and it will be very difficult for the Energy Ministry to complete the process of awarding the contract to its selected firm shortly.
“The decision will totally dismantle its plan to appoint an international seismic survey company to start its job within the coming dry season,” said an insider of the energy sector. However, Petrobangla chairman Ishtiak Ahmed, who is also a member of the review committee, told UNB that he is still confident to complete the review process very shortly and appoint a bidder for the job within the targeted timeframe.
