>Would you see this Mining Bureau statement as being something that would encourage Exxon and MOL to play hardball with Falcon - knowing they may be able pick-up Falcon's side of the Mako for cheap after 2012??

Yes. They could simply sit back until then and hope none of their competition teams up with Falcon in the meantime. I think it's more likely they are playing hardball right now, and want a bigger peice of the pie during phase 2. If anyone thinks Exxon and MOL wouldn't do somthing that was a little underhanded, think again :)

http://www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/9393/28/

On a similar note, it looks like MOL got their production license, so they have until 2014