HANOI – China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)’s bid invitation for nine oil and gas blocks in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam is an illegal and valueless act, stated the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN).
By Lan Nhi - The Saigon Times Daily
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| The exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam is disturbed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation, which has just offered international bids for nine blocks shown on this map - Photo: Courtesy of PVN |
HANOI – China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)’s bid invitation for nine oil and gas blocks in the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Vietnam is an illegal and valueless act, stated the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN).
“PVN affirms the area where CNOOC puts out for international bidding lies entirely within Vietnam’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. This is absolutely not a disputed area,” PVN general director Do Van Hau was quoted by Vietnam News Agency as saying on Wednesday.
CNOOC on June 23 announced the invitation of international bids for nine oil and gas blocks under the 2012 Exploration Production Cooperation with foreign companies. The total area of these blocks is 160,129 square kilometers.
However, it is shown that these blocks lie deeply on the continental shelf of Vietnam, overlapping blocks from 128 to 132 and from 145 to 156 where PVN are operating.
The offshore blocks that Chinese firm is opening for bids are only 57 nautical miles from the coastline of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province and 37 nautical miles from Phu Quoc Island. Last year, at blocks 124 and 128, China cut the cables of Binh Minh Ship that was on its oil exploration trip in Vietnam’s waters.
Hau said the act of CNOOC affected PVN and its four partners, who are operating in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam. Still, they will continue their exploring and exploiting activities as normal, he stressed.
Particularly, PVN has signed oil and gas contracts with Russia’s Gazprom OAO at blocks from 129 to 132, India’s Oil & Natural Gas Corp. at block 128, the U.S. Exxon Mobil Corp. at blocks from 156 to 159 and PV Gas at blocks 148 and 149.
“CNOOC’s bid invitation goes against the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international oil and gas practices. This act seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty rights, jurisdiction rights and legitimate national interest. It also complicates the situation and causes tensions in the East Sea,” said Hau
PVN urged CNOOC to cease its wrongful bid invitation and respect the agreements and the sovereignty of Vietnam.
In addition, the State-run group asked international oil companies not to participate in the bidding for aforesaid oil and gas blocks. PVN will join hands with Vietnamese relevant agencies to ensure the exploiting activities of its partners will go smoothly.
On Wednesday, an official of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry also handed over a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi to lodge a protest against the violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty by CNOOC, according to the news agency.