June 28, 2012. Energy firms have committed investments worth $582.29 million in oil and gas exploration from 13 blocks, awarded in the recent bidding round, the oil ministry said. The government had signed production sharing contracts (PSCs) for 13 exploration blocks. These blocks were awarded under the ninth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (Nelp-IX). The government offered 34 blocks in Nelp-IX but managed to get takers for only 13 on the day of signing contracts. With the signing of PSCs for 13 blocks, total number PSCs rose to 248 PSCs. But country has only 106 discoveries. The government plans to launch 10th round of exploration blocks (Nelp-X) only after making the bidding process more transparent and automatic, the oil ministry said.