Thailand's energy minister says Burma plans to award two natural gas exploration contracts to a Thai company.
Prommin Lertsuridej said Wednesday the contracts will be awarded during a regional meeting next week in the Burmese town of Pagan.
The leaders of Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Laos will be meeting to discuss regional trade and economic development.
Dr. Prommin said the deal will call for exploration in two offshore fields estimated to hold up to 212.4 million cubic meters of natural gas reserves.
He said exploration in the Gulf of Martaban is likely to start in 2005.
Information for this report is provided by Reuters.