The Afghanistan Government has announced that pre-qualification applications for the country’s first oil bidding round in 2009 will open this week.

Companies and representatives making applications are invited to attend the proceedings, the government has announced.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, represented by the Ministry of Mines, will award E&P sharing contracts for hydrocarbon operations in the following blocks in Northern Afghanistan: Jangalikalan (Gas), Juma-Bashikurd (Gas) and Kashkari (Oil).