The Palestinian Authority will close bidding for rights to the Rantis-1 exploration block on 30 June, though it is unclear how much interest the bid round has received thus far amid minimal publicity.

Rantis-1 covers 432km² of the West Bank directly adjacent to Israel’s Meged oil field (see map), which is operated by Israeli minnow Givot Olam. Bidding opened in mid-March. (CONTINUED - 811 WORDS)