Afghanistan to seek bids in oil auction

Afghanistan will seek bids in Dec-ember for exploration rights to oil and natural gas, its second such auction of the year, the director general of policy and promotions at the nation's ministry of mines said. The two areas on offer will be in western Afghanistan, in the Tirpul and Kushka Basins, Abdul Jalil Jumariany said Tuesday in Bahrain. Kushka will be more attractive for gas explorers, while Tirpul offers good prospects for both oil and gas, he said at the Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference. The auction would be the government's second organised effort this year to attract energy investors. Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said in a March 1 interview that Afghanistan would solicit offers on March 7 from companies interested in exploring for oil in the Afghan-Tajik Basin in the country's north.