EN Official Journal of the European Union C 26/4

DECISION No 791

of 31 October 2011

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 1-21 Han Asparuh’, located 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

2012/C 26/04

REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Pursuant to Articles 5(2), 7(2)(8), 42(1)(1) and 44(3) of the Underground Natural Resources Act, and Articles 4(1)(1) and 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 2010,

THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS HAS DECIDED THAT:

1. A procedure shall be opened for granting authorisation for the prospection and exploration of oil and natural gas in ‘Block 1-21 Han Asparuh’, located in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Black Sea, having an area of 14 220 km2 and defined by coordinates 1 to 22, 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 conditions 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 15 000. The bidding dossier is to be purchased from Room 902 at the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism at the following address: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, Bulgaria, by the deadline specified in point 4.

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

9. Bids submitted in accordance with the bidding conditions shall be evaluated on the basis of the proposed work programmes, resources devoted to environmental protection and training, bonuses and managerial 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 20 000, payable by the deadline specified in point 5 into the bank account of the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism indicated in the bidding dossier.

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 after the agreement has been signed, and the other bidders’ deposits shall be reimbursed within 14 days of 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 Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism at: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, Bulgaria, in Bulgarian, in accordance with the requirements of 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. Mineral exploration activities in the field shall be carried out after an assessment by the relevant competent authority of the compatibility of the annual work plans for prospection and exploration.

17. The Minister for the Economy, Energy and Tourism is authorised to: 17.1. send this Decision for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 17.2. organise and conduct the bidding procedure.

18. This Decision shall be published in the State Gazette and on the Council of Ministers website.

19. Appeals against this Decision may be lodged with the Supreme Administrative Court within 14 days of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Rosen ZHELYAZKOV