Brazilian Government Releases Strategic Sectors of Pre-Salt Fields and Enable Largest Auction in History of the Production Sharing Regime

Feb. 12 (TN) The Brazilian government has made decisive progress in national energy policy by authorizing the expansion of areas for oil and gas exploration in deep and ultra-deep waters in the Campos, Santos, and Espírito Santo basins. This historic decision, built in an integrated manner between the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), establishes a more solid foundation for sector planning, aligning economic development, energy security, and environmental responsibility.

With this measure, the country creates the conditions to hold the largest round of the production sharing regime ever organized in Brazil, significantly expanding the number of areas available for exploration. The expected impact is direct on the economy, generating public revenue, attracting long-term investments, and strengthening the oil and gas production chain, with positive effects on employment, income, and regional development.

As an immediate consequence, the decision authorizes the inclusion of 18 new blocks in the Permanent Production Sharing Offer, adding to the eight already foreseen in the tender, enabling an unprecedented round with 26 blocks. The estimate is up to R$ 3.2 billion in signature bonuses, R$ 1.6 trillion in government revenue over the contract cycle, and approximately R$ 1.4 trillion in investments, with significant impacts on the economy and the sector’s production chain.

In addition to expanding the immediate supply of areas, the initiative strengthens the State’s role in regulating the sector. The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) will have greater flexibility to structure future offers in the areas already evaluated, which reduces uncertainty, facilitates company planning, and makes Brazil more competitive on the international stage.

This measure is part of the strategic agenda of Potencializa E&P, a program that has been guiding the actions of the Brazilian government to unlock investments, strengthen national production, and ensure that pre-salt resources are converted into economic development, public revenue, and energy sovereignty, with a long-term vision.