1st 30 down........

[Tree]

Feb. 28:

 ....."and we're going to know a lot more over the next 30 and 60 days."

Update to:   ...."and we're going to know even a lot more over the next 30 days."

Sure looks like moving parts slowed, stopped and even we could see them this week.

The JP visit tipped the end of the bid process 1st domino.

O'Neill's ensuing pumping of PNG to JP industry and PM and the re-signing of JAPEX/Petromin MOU for E/A development and  coming reorganization of Petromin were huge developments.

Thais 'gas concessions' and 'promise their billions in investment would be welcome in PNG' likely define a consortium.

Will it be done in the next 30 days??

No one knows that answer.  If IOC negotiatiors and BoD don't know the outcome yet, how does anyone think the short's and their lamer by the day arguments have any insight into true internal bid dynamics??

Answer:  They don't and they are spewing B.S.  (or bullocks as we learned this week as a brittish equivalent)

So yes, Phil was right, he was likely off script when speaking this thought outloud, but he was right.  I bet anyone here that IOC does in fact know much more now after 30 days from bid openings than they did the day before bid openings at the Feb. 28 CC.

The end of the string may be in sight.  Where is that yardstick???

So much for this public statement

“Our board intends to meet our advisors during March for the purpose of evaluating the proposals received and selecting our partner for the development of the LNG project.

Kinda wierd how people view things differently.  I read that statement initially as the Bod's purpose to meet was evaluate and select partner.  Two separate events is how I took it.  Bod met, we await selection.

You took it, BoD will meet and at that meeting will select a winner.  Who knows?  Maybe they did.  If you've been sober these last couple of weeks even you cannot deny the progress made with known bidders,  JP/Thai, which by alrights may be required housekeeping prior to a winner announced.

You act is if IOC can unilaterally  announce a deal anytime they please.

Then such a statement should not be made if a lot of housekeeping is needed. I didn't make the statement, IOC made the statement.  They didn't say announce a partner I have to admit.  For the average Joe, the statement would have inferred that we are going to get it done in March. 58% of the board guessed it would be done in this time frame (this has since gone down because people are voting late, not so fast buckos) 19 days since the board met. That is a lot of time for back and forth, paperwork, final loose ends, govt tinkering, more investment banker time at the pool. It will be interesting to see how long it actually takes.

'Then such a statement should not be made if a lot of housekeeping is needed. I didn't make the statement, IOC made the statement. '

IOC made the statement, it came off as not intended because 58% of the average Joe's thought like you did!  IOC subsequently clarified the statement to bisect the BoD bid review from the partner selection process. That is the fact.  It is not IOC's fault people mis-read what they carefully place in PR's.  PR's are not taken lightly and the statement you hang your emotions was NOT the implication the PR meant to state.  They know people hang on every word they put out and sure it could have been clearer, initialy.  But, IOC did clear it up subsequently twice.   People whining on the MB of pps in low 50s in Dec. should be joyous now happy on the MB, but that is not the case.  Nothing personal, but we need to keep a grip on reality so we can remain sane.