IRISH Marine Oil (IMO), has re applied for the Ixiamas exploration block in Bolivia. This follows the passing of legislation "which impacts heavily" on a number of existing licence holders like IMO, which signed heads of agreement but had not begun work on their blocks, according to the group's latest preliminary statement.

IMO (and its partner Pan Andean) had bid for a work programme similar to that already agreed under the old law, chairman Dr John Teeling said. But while the application is being processed, all farm out negotiations have ceased.