The Ecuadorian government has published the new regulation that will govern the bidding procedure for the country’s Ninth Petroleum Round. Petroecuador has promoted this regulation, published in Official Registry 719 on December 5th, in Houston (November 20) and London (November 26). It is estimated that the current government will convoke biddings via publication in the country’s principal newspapers for blocks 4, 5, 39, and 40 in the coast during the second half of December. Two of these blocks are located in Isla de Puná and Santa Elena Peninsula while the remaining two are located offshore in deep waters of the Pacific Ocean. Interested parties may obtain the bases for the bidding starting on December 18th. The final adjudication of the bids is scheduled for April 25, 2003. It is not known whether or not the new government (which will take power in January 2003) will suspend the policy or continue it and convoke biddings just for the coast and/or the Amazon region.
