Mozambique has delayed the deadline for submitting bids for 15 new oil and gas exploration fields by three months, news agency Reuters reported.

The bidding round will now close on July 30 instead of April 30, according to the report. Mozambique’s Government did not give a reason for the decision.

The 15 new exploration blocks on offer include three located in northern Rovuma Basin, where U.S. firm Anadarko Petroleum and Italy’s Eni are developing multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects.

Mozambique hopes to become the world’s third-largest LNG exporter, behind Qatar and Australia, by making use of its vast natural gas reserves.