CAC,
The dismantling of Petromin isn't/wasn't something that has been recently concocted in the past 2 months. It has been something likely brewing since O'Neill was relected in August. Indeed our own Palmstradamus picked up on this way back in November. Now, if Palm figured this out, I am fairly certain that IOC, internal government officials, and any bidders were informed straight from the horses mouth sometime last year.
Now this would likely raise some questions by IOC and any bidding parties. Questions and concerns that would require very strong written assurances from people at or near the top (O'Neill). In fact, it is inconcievable to me that written assurances were not completed long before any notification about disbanding of Petromin. This would mean that each and every bidder currenlty have legal binding documentation in the vaults guaranteeing quick legal addition to the PRL/PDL 15 regardless of the state of the national oil company.
So, with written assurances of acceptance in place, my question to you is: how does any bidder care about the disbanding of Petromin to the extent that it affects bid timelines? In fact why would IOC/IB's set bidding deadlines back in January if this was a concern at that time?
Bert and you are entitled to your opinions, but it is impossible for me to accept that multibillion dollar SMs/NoC/Utilities did not have the foresight to handle this many months ago.