Tullow Oil Plc in a rejoinder protested a news analysis headlined "Shell's quit spills slick on investment climate" published in The Daily Star Wednesday.

The rejoinder said the article wrongfully suggested that Tullow acquired its second round licencing interests through corruption.

It said Tullow was evaluated in the official evaluation as top bidder in all four second round blocks. The rejoinder also said Tullow was a public listed company quoted in the London Stock Exchange rather than a 'little known small Irish company'.

The second round blocks were awarded to them on merit having satisfied all the relevant technical and financial criteria, it added.

SEE PAGE 11 COL 7 FROM PAGE 1

Our Reply:

The report nowhere accused Tullow of corruption. It pointed out the timing when allegations of corruption in the government's bidding process surfaced for the first time. It mentioned Tullow indirectly because the analysis wanted to focus only on Shell.

Tullow was 'officially' marked as top bidder in blocks 9 and 11. But the government soon brought in 'big' partners like Chevron-Texaco and Petronas, although the top bidder was supposed to be technically and financially sound.

Tullow's proposal to drill 10 wells was brought down to three, which indicates the government was not confident about Tullow's financial strength. Then what was the justification of the official evaluation of the top bidders?

Moreover, beside Shell's profile, companies like Tullow are small in all accounts.