Myanmar moves gas exploration work to another offshore block

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Myanmar has moved its natural gas exploration work from an offshore block AD-7 to another offshore block A-3 after claiming that successful survey was conducted at AD-7, according to a report of the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar Sunday.

The report came after Myanmar rejected on Thursday Bangladesh's demand for stopping natural gas drilling at block AD-7, which Myanmar claimed that it falls on its exclusive economic zone and the Daewoo International Corporation of South Korea has started test drilling there since September this year.

According to the report, drilling machines were moved to Thanda-1 exploration well in block A-3 on Nov. 6-8 after completing drilling in block AD-7 up to Nov. 5.


"Continued tasks will be undertaken according to the work program, " the report added.

According to the report, Myanmar opened up to tender for gas exploration in some offshore blocks in its exclusive economic zone in Rakhine state in 2000. Daewoo won the tender for three blocks A-1, A-3 and AD-7 in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Of them, the block A-1 has been discovered with gas which can produce on a commercial scale.

On Thursday, Myanmar reacted on Bangladesh's protest by rejecting the latter's demand for stopping natural gas drilling at block AD-7, which Myanmar said it falls within its territorial waters.

Claiming that the country is acting in accordance with international laws with regard to boundary ownership, the Thursday statement turned down Bangladesh's demand which it described as an unlawful and mistaken one.

"To protect the interest of our own country in accordance with the international laws," the statement insisted that the drilling will carry on up to the end.

"When the test drilling was being conducted, neighboring Bangladesh claimed that the AD-7 block falls within its territorial waters and unlawfully demanded that the drilling shall be suspended immediately," the statement added.

Source: Xnhua