Decision No 946 of 10 November 2016 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 1-25 Vratsa-West’, located in Northwest Bulgaria, and announcing that authorisation will be granted on the basis of a competitive bidding procedure
Date: 2017-03-22
Institutions: Bulgaria
Subjects: Bulgaria, Vratza region, gas field, hydrocarbon, mineral prospecting, natural resources, oilfield, petroleum exploration, public contract




C_2017089EN.01002701.xml










22.3.2017   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 89/27





DECISION No 946
of 10 November 2016
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 1-25 Vratsa-West’, located in Northwest Bulgaria, and announcing that authorisation will be granted on the basis of a competitive bidding procedure
(2017/C 89/08)
REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
Pursuant to Article 5(2), Articles 7(2)(8) and 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 2010, § 63 of the Transitional and Final Provisions of the Act Amending the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Control over Toxic Chemical Substances and their Precursors Act (SG No 14, 2015) and a reasoned proposal by the Minister for Energy
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 1-25 Vratsa-West’, located in Northwest Bulgaria, having an area of 4 886 km2 and defined by coordinates 1 to 155, 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 17.30 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 17.30 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 17.30 on the 155th day following the publication of this Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union.










7.


The bidding dossier price shall be BGN 10 000, value added tax (VAT) included. The bidding dossier is to be obtained from the Ministry of Energy at: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, by the deadline specified in point 4 upon the presentation of a payment order.






7.1.


The amount specified in point 7 shall be paid into the bank account of the Ministry of Energy:






 


BIC of the BNB for payments in Bulgarian currency (BGN) — BNBGBGSD;










 


SWIFT code of the BNB for payments in foreign currency — BNBGBGSF;










 


IBAN — BG94 BNBG 9661 3000 1421 01;










 


BNB headquarters.














7.2.


The following should be recorded on the payment order: ‘For the bidding dossier for “Block 1-25 Vratsa-West” 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 participate in the bidding procedure must fulfil the requirements specified in Article 23(1) of the Underground Natural Resources Act.










9.


The applicant or where the applicant is a grouping, each of its members, must provide a declaration confirming the absence of the circumstances under Article 2 in conjunction with § 1 of the Additional Provisions of the Act on economic and financial relationships with companies registered in preferential tax regime jurisdictions, entities related to them and their beneficial owners (ZIFODRYUPDRSTLTDS) (SG No 1, 2014) or evidence of the existence of circumstances under Article 4 of ZIFODRYUPDRSTLTDS.










10.


The applicant enterprise or grouping must possess the necessary managerial capabilities for carrying out prospection and exploration activities.






10.1.


To prove managerial capabilities, all the following conditions must be met:






10.1.1.


the applicant or where the applicant is a grouping, each of its members, must provide original references from business partners;










10.1.2.


the applicant or where the applicant is a grouping, each of its members, must provide evidence of professional expertise and experience obtained in managing at least one project for the prospection and exploration of mineral resources — oil and natural gas.














10.2.


The applicant may prove managerial capabilities by reference to the capabilities of connected third parties, whether natural or legal persons, provided the applicant presents evidence of the use of the capabilities of these third parties, as well as documents proving their professional expertise and management experience. Proof of the capabilities of third parties shall be furnished through the presentation of documents, as specified in the bidding dossier.














11.


The applicant enterprise or grouping must possess the financial resources required for carrying out the prospection and exploration activities.






11.1.


To comply with the financial resources rule, the applicant enterprise, or at least one of the members of the applicant grouping:






11.1.1.


must have generated a minimum of BGN 4 000 000 total net sales revenue for the three preceding financial years (depending on the date of its establishment); where the applicant is a grouping which is not a legal person, the requirement set out in this point applies to the grouping as a whole, or










11.1.2.


must provide a reference from a bank or other financial institution certifying that it has the necessary financial means at its disposal to implement the oil and natural gas prospection and exploration activities in ‘Block 1-25 Vratsa-West’, or










11.1.3.


must submit a letter of intent from a bank or other financial institution regarding the provision to the applicant of the funds necessary for the implementation of oil and natural gas prospection and exploration activities in ‘Block 1-25 Vratsa-West’.














11.2.


Evidence of financial resources under paragraph 11.1.2 and 11.1.3 may be provided by reference to the resources of connected third parties, whether natural or legal persons, provided the applicant can prove that these resources will be made available to it, specifying their amount in BGN. Proof of the resources of third parties shall be furnished through the presentation of documents, as specified in the bidding dossier.














12.


Applicants' bids shall be evaluated on the basis of the proposed work programmes, resources devoted to environmental protection, bonuses, and training.










13.


The deposit for participation in the competition shall be set at BGN 5 000, payable by the deadline specified in point 5 into the bank account of the Ministry of Energy:






 


BIC of the BNB for payments in Bulgarian currency (BGN) — BNBGBGSD;










 


SWIFT code of the BNB for payments in foreign currency — BNBGBGSF;










 


IBAN — BG75 BNBG 9661 3300 1421 03;










 


BNB headquarters.














14.


Applicants who are not admitted to the competitive bidding procedure shall have their deposits reimbursed within 14 days from the date on which the selection board's decision not to admit them comes into effect.










15.


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.










16.


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 Energy at: ul. Triaditsa 8, Sofia, in Bulgarian, in accordance with Article 46 of the Underground Natural Resources Act.










17.


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










18.


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










19.


The Minister of Energy is authorised to:






19.1.


send this Decision for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;










19.2.


organise and conduct the competitive bidding procedure.














20.


This Decision shall be published in the State Gazette and on the Council of Ministers website. This Decision shall be announced in the municipalities of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Lovech and Sofia.










21.


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



For the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers

Veselin DAKOV




ANNEX
Register of boundary point coordinates of ‘Block 1-25 Vratsa-West’
(WGS84 coordinate system)







No


Longitude E


Latitude N




1


22.917300


43.820100




The Danube:





2


23.191173


43.821354




3


23.197066


43.821433




4


23.196993


43.823665




The Danube:





5


23.488200


43.830700




6


23.488200


43.712300




7


23.402800


43.712300




8


23.402800


43.599100




9


23.488200


43.599100




10


23.488200


43.310000




11


23.547660


43.310000




12


23.547660


43.200000




13


23.730400


43.200000




14


23.730400


43.196000




15


23.736400


43.196000




16


23.736400


43.200000




17


24.000000


43.200000




18


24.000000


43.183333




19


24.100000


43.183333




20


24.100000


43.150000




21


24.283333


43.150000




22


24.283333


43.116673




23


24.450000


43.116673




24


24.450000


43.050000




25


22.950000


43.050000




26


22.950000


43.091000




State border





27


22.917300


43.219950




Excluded area





28


23.101000


43.713500




29


23.128800


43.713500




30


23.128800


43.700900




31


23.101000


43.700900




Excluded area





32


23.371000


43.532700




33


23.384400


43.532700




34


23.384400


43.526200




35


23.371000


43.526200




Excluded area





36


23.149700


43.424300




37


23.162600


43.424300




38


23.162600


43.416500




39


23.149700


43.416500




Excluded area





40


23.693500


43.156200




41


23.712000


43.156200




42


23.712000


43.149000




43


23.693500


43.149000




Excluded area





44


23.846200


43.163000




45


23.864000


43.163000




46


23.857500


43.148400




47


23.839700


43.136500




48


23.793500


43.136500




49


23.793500


43.141000




50


23.818000


43.141000




51


23.818000


43.144000




52


23.823400


43.144000




Excluded area





53


23.191971


43.818571




54


23.198244


43.820448




55


23.199586


43.818361




56


23.193222


43.816484




Excluded area





57


23.238758


43.815630




58


23.245858


43.815672




59


23.245948


43.813670




60


23.242940


43.813594




61


23.243045


43.810786




62


23.238968


43.810655




Excluded area





63


23.228740


43.775887




64


23.231352


43.774625




65


23.223123


43.764951




66


23.225492


43.763689




67


23.215138


43.754015




68


23.210012


43.756645




Excluded area





69


23.180029


43.725078




70


23.180444


43.725207




71


23.180919


43.724590




72


23.180484


43.724446




Excluded area





73


23.179851


43.722221




74


23.181711


43.723155




75


23.182984


43.722523




76


23.182543


43.719681




Excluded area





77


23.198810


43.654532




78


23.199827


43.654094




79


23.197592


43.651461




80


23.199225


43.650052




81


23.198168


43.648847




82


23.193123


43.650363




83


23.195451


43.653103




Excluded area





84


23.249776


43.553638




85


23.292967


43.543895




86


23.292066


43.540531




87


23.299300


43.538951




88


23.298699


43.536129




89


23.289227


43.537928




90


23.286456


43.530441




91


23.246630


43.538606




Excluded area





92


23.300464


43.540223




93


23.302338


43.540242




94


23.302331


43.539256




95


23.300570


43.539254




Excluded area





96


23.337220


43.527463




97


23.341994


43.527520




98


23.341978


43.525665




99


23.337173


43.525781




Excluded area





100


23.366364


43.449142




101


23.369597


43.447536




102


23.369593


43.445934




103


23.364458


43.447565




Excluded area





104


23.368844


43.443771




105


23.373383


43.441773




106


23.370522


43.438661




107


23.365836


43.440832




Excluded area





108


23.359433


43.434500




109


23.350713


43.438863




110


23.358035


43.444934




Excluded area





111


23.223999


43.421658




112


23.228437


43.421264




113


23.227919


43.418375




114


23.223610


43.418784




Excluded area





115


23.250960


43.402347




116


23.251349


43.402393




117


23.252324


43.401028




118


23.250867


43.399368




119


23.249955


43.399698




Excluded area





120


23.319410


43.356375




121


23.321045


43.355977




122


23.320355


43.354320




123


23.318855


43.354013




124


23.317704


43.355096




Excluded area





125


23.172010


43.270621




126


23.172654


43.270849




127


23.174067


43.268903




128


23.173517


43.268691




Excluded area





129


23.292470


43.208497




130


23.293344


43.209196




131


23.294766


43.207829




132


23.293500


43.207653




Excluded area





133


23.345947


43.237639




134


23.348242


43.237803




135


23.348310


43.236570




136


23.345657


43.236478




Excluded area





137


23.537034


43.223907




138


23.542637


43.219320




139


23.539529


43.216615




140


23.544148


43.213072




141


23.542159


43.211405




142


23.544371


43.208864




143


23.540770


43.206432




144


23.528755


43.203256




145


23.527425


43.208915




146


23.529227


43.210448




147


23.526026


43.213217




148


23.534285


43.219210




149


23.532498


43.220301




Excluded area





150


23.614787


43.197136




151


23.618857


43.194792




152


23.612187


43.188681




153


23.609138


43.190934




154


23.611620


43.192577




155


23.612762


43.196327