SARAJEVO, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Bosnia's autonomousBosniak-Croat Federation has issued a new tender seekingconsultants to help with the process of awarding an oil and gasexploration and production concession to Royal Dutch Shell,.
The region's energy ministry set a September 3 deadline forapplications by consultants interested in helping the governmentwith negotiating and preparing the contract, after it hadannulled the previous tender setting the deadline for June 5.
The government has agreed to award Shell Exploration Companya concession in the Dinaridi area, stretching from the town ofBihac in the west to the Adriatic town of Neum in the south.
Shell is expected to invest between $300 million and $700million depending on the number of drilling sites, but furthertalks with the company are pending the selection of aconsultant, according to Energy Minister Erdal Trhulj.
The first tender for consultants was issued in late Aprilbut the government had to annul it after failing to receive atleast three acceptable bids. The value of the contract is800,000 Bosnian marka ($550,000).
(1$ = 1.457 Bosnian marka) (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Louise Heavens)
