Thailand grants 11 petroleum exploration rights

BANGKOK, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The Thai government approved on Tuesday 11 petroleum exploration concessions for 13 blocks -- 11 onshore and two in the Gulf of Thailand -- in the country's latest round of bidding.

London-listed Salamander Energy (E&P) Ltd (SMDR.L) was given the rights to onshore block L15/50 to and Malaysia's Mitra Energy Ltd and Northern Gulf Oil (Thailand) Ltd were each allocated two onshore blocks, it said in a statement.

TPI Polene Power, a unit of Thailand's TPI Polene TPIP.BK got rights to block L29/50 and Australia's Carnarvon Petroleum Ltd. (CVN.AX) and Sun Resources NL (SUR.AX) jointly received rights to onshore block L20/50.

Pearl Oil (Petroleum) Ltd, an affiliate of Singapore-based Pearl Energy, received rights to the G2/50 block in the Gulf of Thailand and Pearl Oil (Resources) was also given rights to onshore block L21/50, the statement said.

Other winners included Sita Oil Exploration House Inc, Adani Welspun Exploration Ltd and Auo Siam Marine Co Ltd, wholly-owned by Premchai Karnasuta, a major shareholder in top Thai construction contractor Italian-Thai Development ITD.BK. (Reporting by Trisanat Kongkhunthian, writing by Khettiya Jittapong, editing by Michael Battye)