The Indonesian government plans to offer 37 onshore and offshore oil and gas blocks to investors in an open tender in the second week of July, a newspaper reported Friday.

At least 17 local and foreign investors have submitted their bids but the government keeps their names confidential, reported Bisnis Indonesia.

"More than five international companies have submitted their bids. There are big players," Priyono, a senior official with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, was quoted as saying.

The official declined to elaborate.

But reports said Chevron Texaco, Total, Amerada Hess, ENI and Conoco-Philips are among the bidders.

Source: Xinhua