* PetroChina, Exxon Mobil, Shell seen as possible suitors
* India's state-run ONGC, India Oil could team up on bid
* First round bids due March 14
By Denny Thomas and Sumeet Chatterjee
HONG KONG/MUMBAI, March 5 (Reuters) - Anadarko PetroleumCorp and an Indian billionaire have launched the auctionof a 20 percent stake in a Mozambique gas field that could fetch$4.5 billion, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The Rovuma offshore field is a hot property after recentdiscoveries boosted Mozambique's gas reserves to around 150trillion cubic feet, enough to supply world number one importerJapan for 35 years. The east African country is expected toeventually compete with Australia and Qatar as a major providerof liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia.
Last year Thai state oil company PTT Exploration andProduction PCL trumped Royal Dutch Shell Plc in a hotly contested battle for Cove Energy Plc and its 8.5percent of the field. The $1.9 billion price tag for Coveimplies the stake now on offer could fetch about $4.5 billion.
Indian tycoon Venugopal Dhoot, who controls consumerelectronics to mobile-phone services conglomerate VideoconGroup, is leading the process and has hired Standard Chartered and UBS to handle the sale, the sourcesadded.
Both banks declined to comment.
First round bids are due on March 14 after an informationmemorandum on the sale was sent to potential bidders in earlyFebruary, one of the sources said.
U.S. oil and gas explorer Anadarko is the operator ofMozambique's offshore Area 1 with a 36.5 percent interest, whileJapan's Mitsui & Co Ltd is the second-biggest holder inthe block with a 20 percent stake.
India's state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and a unit of Dhoot's Videocon Industries own 10 percent each, while PTT has an 8.5 percent interest andMozambique's state-owned ENH 15 percent.
Shares in Videocon Industries, which has a market value of$1.2 billion, rose as much as 4.6 percent on Tuesday, outpacinga near 1 percent gain for the Mumbai market index.
"The move to monetise its holding in the Mozambique gasblock to reduce debt is a positive trigger for the company andthe stock," said Neeraj Dewan, director at Quantum Securities."That's a good asset and it should get a good valuation."
SUITORS
PetroChina, Shell and Exxon Mobil Corp are amongsuitors expected to submit indicative proposals, sources withdirect knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
India's state-owned Oil & Natural Gas Corp and OilIndia are considering a joint bid for the 20 percentstake, two separate sources said. The companies would hire anadviser once they decide on bidding, one of the sources said.
Shell and Exxon declined to comment. PetroChina officialswere not available for comment. ONGC Videsh head D. K. Sarrafdeclined comment, while Oil India Director Finance T. K. AnanthKumar said all options were open for the company.
Videocon is seeking about $2.5-$3 billion for its 10 pctstake, though sources warned buyers are unlikely to pay a hugepremium over what PTT paid.
"PTT paid what was a good price, but to get to a $3 billionprice tag is difficult," a person familiar with the processsaid.
A spokesman for Anadarko did not immediately respond to arequest for comment on Monday, while Dhoot declined to comment.
Dhoot, who ranks 38th in Forbes' India rich list with a networth of $1.5 billion, paid $75 million for the Rovuma 1 stakein 2008. His company is expected to use some of the saleproceeds to pare debt of more than $5.5 billion.
Anadarko CEO Al Walker last month told an earningsconference call that the company was looking to sell a 10percent interest in the block, taking the firm's stake to 26.5percent.
Together with ENI SpA, which owns an adjacent fieldand is cooperating on building gas liquefaction facilities,Anadarko hopes to ship out first LNG in 2018.
