Vietnam Oil and Gas Group calls on international oil and gas companies not to participate in bidding
Affirming that the invitation to bid for blocks located on Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone is contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, General Director of the Oil and Gas Group - Do Van Hau requested international oil and gas companies not to participate in the bidding.
Speaking at a press conference on the afternoon of June 27 regarding the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) inviting bids for exploration and exploitation in 9 blocks in the East Sea, General Director of the Oil and Gas Group - Do Van Hau said that through checking and verifying coordinates, PVN determined that all these areas are located deep within Vietnam's continental shelf.
This area of more than 160,000 square kilometers also overlaps with blocks 128 - 132 and 145 - 156 where PVN has been conducting oil and gas activities for a long time. This is also an area without maritime disputes.
The area where China is calling for bids is deep within Vietnam's continental shelf.
Photo: Nhat Minh.
Regarding this incident, PVN affirmed that CNOOC's bidding, with the permission of the Chinese Government, was illegal, invalid, contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and inconsistent with international petroleum practices. This action also seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty, jurisdiction and national interests.
The Oil and Gas Group affirmed that they strongly oppose this action and request CNOOC to immediately cancel the above bidding and respect the cooperation agreements between the two parties. PVN said that it will send an official letter to CNOOC in the coming days and request international oil and gas companies not to participate in bidding in this case.
Responding to the press about the current status of PVN's oil and gas activities in the above mentioned area, Mr. Do Van Hau said that the group currently has 3 exploration contracts with foreign partners: Gazprom (Russia), Exxon Mobil (USA), onGC (India) and one contract implemented by PVN itself.
“There is currently no oil and gas exploitation in these blocks,” said Mr. Hau. In addition, the leader of PVN also affirmed that these contracts will continue to be implemented normally, despite the CNOOC's call for bids.
Map of illegal bidding for 9 oil and gas blocks by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
On June 23, in response to China's call for bids for exploration in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi also stated that this was an illegal and invalid action, seriously violating Vietnam's sovereignty, jurisdiction and legitimate national interests, violating the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which China is a member state, complicating the situation and causing tension in the East Sea.
Vietnam strongly protests and requests that China immediately cancel the above-mentioned illegal bidding, not take any action that complicates the situation in the East Sea and expands the dispute, strictly comply with the Agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of maritime issues between Vietnam and China, respect international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC)".
According to VnExpress-M
