Deals with IOCs unlikely before disputes settled

The chances of signing agreements with international oil companies (IOCs) ConocoPhillips and Tullow seem to be very thin, before a settlement is reached on the issue of Bangladesh's maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar and India. Conoco became responsive for as many as eight offshore blocks while Irish company Tullow assumed responsibility for only one block. But when the Energy Ministry finally moved for awarding blocks, the government took a decision to award 2 blocks to Conoco and one to Tullow. Both India and Myanmar objected the move claiming that the gas blocks overlapped their maritime boundaries. - UNB