Selecting Krakow as drilling contractor

This is in reference to a recently published report in your esteemed daily noting that the government will seek explanation from the Polish oil and gas exploration company, Krakow, for its withdrawal from gas well drilling programmes. This in nothing but another failed move by a government agency. When the original expression of interest (EOI) was published by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, a lot of major drilling contractors had responded. A short-list of the companies which expressed their interest was subsequently complied. To our surprise, Petro Bangla chose the least known company to carry out this important work. Why is it that every time Petro Bangla chooses to work with companies like Niko and Krakow, which do not have a proven track record. When will we see a change in attitude of Petro Bangla? Are they ever going to learn? If the right contractor was chosen on time, the wells mentioned in the report would be producing new gas by now. Studies show that drilling to a depth of 2500 meters to 3500 meters in Bangladesh can be achieved in less than 60 days. Following which the appraisal, wire-line testing and production can be achieved in under two years. In this case, unfortunately, two years have passed and the involved government agency is yet to sign a deal with a proper drilling contractor. I wonder, how much political pressure Petro Bangla was under at the time of choosing a little known company like Krakow? Petros R. Mendes Chittagong E-mail : petros.mendes@jlmbd.net