EN Official Journal of the European Union C 106/5

DECISION No 23

of 14 January 2013

opening a procedure for granting authorisation for the prospection and exploration of oil and natural gas, being underground natural resources as defined in Article 2(1)(3) of the Underground Natural Resources Act, in ‘Block 1-23 Sveta Marina’, located on the continental shelf and in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, and announcing that authorisation will be granted on the basis of a competitive bidding procedure

2013/C 106/06

Pursuant to Article 5(2), Article 7(2)(8), Article 42(1)(1) and Article 44(3) of the Underground Natural Resources Act, and Article 4(1)(1) and Article 16 of the Regulation on the conduct of bidding and tendering procedures for granting authorisation for the prospection and/or exploration of, and awarding concessions for the production of, underground natural resources as defined by the Underground Natural Resources Act, adopted by Council of Ministers Resolution No 231 of 11 October 2010,

THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A procedure shall be opened for granting authorisation for the prospection and exploration of oil and natural gas in ‘Block 1-23 Sveta Marina’, located on the continental shelf and in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, having an area of 1 612 km2 and defined by coordinates 1 to 15 as specified in the Annex.

2. The authorisation referred to in point 1 shall be granted on the basis of a competitive bidding procedure under which bidders are not present when the bids are considered.

3. The authorisation period for prospection and exploration shall be set at five years from the date on which the prospection and exploration agreement enters into force, with a right to extend this period pursuant to Article 31(3) of the Underground Natural Resources Act.

4. The deadline for purchasing the bidding dossier shall be 17.00 on the 120th day following the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.

5. The deadline for submitting applications to take part in the competitive bidding procedure shall be 17.00 on the 140th day following the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.

6. The deadline for submitting bids in accordance with the bidding dossier shall be 17.00 on the 155th day following the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.

7. The price of the bidding dossier shall be set at BGN 10 000. The bidding dossier is to be obtained from Room 902 at the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism at: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, Bulgaria, by the deadline specified in point 4, on presentation of a payment order. 7.1. The amount specified in point 7 shall be transferred to the following bank account of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism: BIC of the BNB for payments in Bulgarian currency (BGN) — BNBGBGSD; SWIFT code of the BNB for payments in foreign currency — BNBGBGSF; IBAN — BG79 BNBG 9661 3000 1026 01; BNB headquarters. 7.2. The following should be recorded on the payment order: for the bidding dossier for ‘Block 1-23 Sveta Marina’, purchased on behalf of the applicant, whose name must be written on the payment order. 7.3. The person receiving the bidding dossier shall sign a declaration on behalf of the applicant, undertaking to protect the confidentiality of the information contained therein.

8. Applicants wishing to take part in the competitive bidding procedure must meet the requirements set out in Article 23(1) of the Underground Natural Resources Act.

9. Applicants’ bids shall be evaluated on the basis of the proposed work programmes, resources devoted to environmental protection, bonuses and administrative and financial capacities, as provided for in the bidding dossier.

10. The deposit for participation in the competitive bidding procedure shall be set at BGN 10 000, payable by the deadline specified in point 5 into the following bank account of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism: BIC of the BNB for payments in Bulgarian currency (BGN) — BNBGBGSD; SWIFT code of the BNB for payments in foreign currency — BNBGBGSF; IBAN — BG17 BNBG 9661 3300 1026 01; BNB headquarters.

11. Applicants who are not admitted to the competitive bidding procedure shall have their deposits reimbursed within 14 days after being informed that they have not been admitted.

12. The successful bidder’s deposit shall be reimbursed within 14 days from the signing of the agreement, and the other bidders’ deposits shall be reimbursed within 14 days from the publication in the State Gazette of the Council of Ministers’ decision to grant authorisation for prospection and exploration.

13. Applications to take part in the competitive bidding procedure and bids under the competitive bidding procedure shall be submitted to the Registry of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism at: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, Bulgaria, in Bulgarian, in accordance with Article 46 of the Underground Natural Resources Act.

14. Bids shall comply with the requirements and conditions specified in the bidding dossier.

15. The competitive bidding procedure shall take place even if only one applicant is admitted to take part in it.

16. The Minister for the Economy, Energy and Tourism is authorised to: 16.1. send this Decision for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 16.2. organise and conduct the competitive bidding procedure.

17. This Decision shall be published in the State Gazette and on the Council of Ministers website. This Decision shall be advertised in the municipalities of Kavarna, Balchik, Aksakovo, Varna and Avren.

18. Appeals against this Decision may be addressed to the Supreme Administrative Court within 14 days of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV Chief Secretary of the Council of Ministers Rosen ZHELYAZKOV Chief Secretary of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Vladimir TUDZHAROV Director, Legal Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Zara DOBREVA