Burma’s Ministry of Energy…announced that it has awarded international firms, mostly from Western nations, 20 areas in its waters to explore for oil and gas…Following the announcement, watchdog groups called for heightened transparency from companies and the government as the search for energy resources in Burma is set to accelerate… Vicky Bowman, director of the Myanmar Center for Responsible Business… [said] that the large international winners should show leadership in demanding transparency and thorough social and environmental checks as the process goes on…Juman Kubba…[from Global Witness said her organization] was beginning a project to contact all the winning companies and to ask “who pulls the strings and pockets the profits from your company.”…[refers to Berlanga, BG Asia Pacific, Chevron, Conocophillips, Eni, Mitsui Oil Exploration, Ophir Energy, ROC Oil, Shell, Statoil, Tap Oil, Total, Transcontinental Group, Woodside Energy]