The Bulgarian government announced Thursday three new bids for exploration for oil and gas in the northern parts of the country.
Bulgarian legislation has it that companies must compete to get a permit to either explore or produce undergroun natural resources.
Of the three new territories open for prospecting, two are in the northeastern and one in the northwestern part of the country.
The territories are: "Block 4 Kubrat" (area: 2,500 sq.km.), "Block 5 Byala" (2000 sq.km.) and "Block 1-20 Nikopol" (2,000 sq.km.).