ONGC, SK Energy win Colombian blocks

The country’s biggest oil company ONGC and SK Energy Co of South Korea were among the winners of a Colombian oilfield auction, the South American country’s oil regulator said.

Other winners of the so-called Ronda Colombia included Talisman Energy Inc, Lewis Energy Colombia Inc, Hocol SA and units of Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp, the National Hydrocarbons Agency, known by its Spanish acronym ANH, said.

The auction found takers for 22 of the 43 blocks available, with the private investors claiming between 2 per cent and 47 per cent stakes, the ANH said.

Winners will be able to sign contracts and will then explore their areas for oil and gas, which will remain property of the state. State energy company Ecopetrol SA, Pluspetrol SA of Argentina and Tecpecol SA also won areas in the auction, the ANH said.