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Summary Iraqi oil official says govt has sold rights to only 3 of 12 oil, gas exploration blocks.
The lukewarm response was largely blamed on tough contract terms and the fact that only unexplored areas were offered.In three previous energy auctions since 2009, bidders competed for known oil and gas fields.Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad says that in Thursdays round, a group comprised of Russias Lukoil and Inpex Corp. of Japan made a successful bid for oil exploration in southern Iraq. He says Pakistan Petroleum won a contract for natural gas exploration in the east of the country.On Wednesday, a Kuwait-led consortium won rights to search for oil and gas in the south.
