At its regular meeting Thursday, the Government decided to open the procedure for granting a permit for the prospecting for oil and natural gas in the Kaliakra 99 block, the Council of Minister's Information and Public Relations Directorate said. The Kaliakra 99 block is situated in the central part of the Bulgarian Black Sea shelf and consists of parts of the II-91 Kaliakra and IV-91 Kaliakra blocks that were researched in 1991-1997 by British Gas and Enterprise Oil. Indications have been registered that there might be deposit of oil or natural gas in the Kaliakra 99 cell. The block has an area of 2,601 sq km. The permit will have a three-year term of validity, which can be extended twice. It will be granted after the holding of a competitive bidding