The leading pro-independence party in the disputed Western Sahara region, which lies to the south of Morocco, will launch its second oil and gas licensing round in early February in the US.
The Polisario Front, which claims sovereignty over the territory under the name of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, will open the bid round in Houston on 5 February.
The round, which was first announced in late 2007, will consist of three onshore and six offshore blocks (MEED 2:11:07).
Successful companies will be able to study existing data on the blocks but will not be able to carry out exploration work until the status of the territory is resolved.
The Polisario has contested sovereignty over the Western Sahara region with Morocco since the former colonial power, Spain, withdrew from the territory in 1975. The UN has designated it a non-self governing territory.
The two sides will meet in March in a fourth round of UN-sponsored talks to try to resolve the status of the region.
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