Tuesday, January 4 2005 12:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India today (Jan 4, 2005) put 20 oil and gas exploration blocks for bidding under the fifth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy. The 20 blocks on offer include six deep-water blocks, two shallow water and 12 on-land blocks, Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said at a press conference.

Of the deep-water blocks, two each are on the East and West coast and two in the prospective Andaman area.

The last date for bidding is May 31, 2005.

The shallow-water blocks are on the West coast while the 12 on-land blocks are spread across eight basins -- Assam, Arakan, Cambay, Rajasthan, Kaveri, Ganga valley, Vindhya, Deccan Syneclise and Krishna Godavari.

Road shows to attract investors will be held in Delhi on January 18, London (January 20-21), Dubai (January 24-25), Houston (January 31 and February 1) and Calgary (February 3-4).

Digital data rooms are being set up in Delhi, Houston, London, Calgary and Dubai.