During the Offshore Week 2025 event held in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), represented by Marina Abelha, Superintendent of Bidding Promotion, announced that the Sixth Cycle of the Permanent Offer of Concessions (OPC) is expected to be launched very soon.
According to Abelha, this new cycle will place particular emphasis on onshore areas, following a recent reassessment and reallocation of available blocks that has renewed interest in this segment. The ANP expects to publish the corresponding public notice before the end of the year.
The upcoming cycle is expected to include blocks located in new frontier regions, such as the Parnaíba and Tacutu Basins — the latter being included in a bidding round for the first time. The cycle will also offer blocks in mature basins, including the Potiguar, Recôncavo, and São Francisco Basins. Notably, the São Francisco Basin has drawn attention for its potential hydrogen resources (so-called “white hydrogen”), the exploration of which also falls under ANP’s regulatory authority.
The Permanent Offer of Concessions model replaces the traditional fixed-round system. Under this mechanism, companies may express their interest in specific areas at any time, and ANP schedules bidding sessions based on these expressions of interest. The model seeks to expand Brazil’s reserves, promote new geological knowledge, diversify the profile of operating companies, and decentralize investments, which have historically been concentrated in the country’s Southeast region.
The fifth cycle, held previously, resulted in the award of 34 blocks to nine companies, generating nearly BRL 1 billion in signature bonuses, with notable activity in the Foz do Amazonas Basin. The agency expects the sixth cycle to achieve similarly positive results, with strong participation and accelerated exploration efforts.
In addition, the ANP recalled that the Third Cycle of the Permanent Offer under the Production Sharing regime would take place the following day (October 22), offering seven pre-salt blocks—two in the Santos Basin and five in the Campos Basin.
In summary, the ANP is preparing to open a new concession-based bidding cycle with a clear focus on onshore and frontier exploration areas, aiming to broaden Brazil’s exploration portfolio and attract a diverse range of investors and operators.
Photo: Canva
