A public hearing was held on Friday, March 13, to discuss updates to the Permanent Production Sharing Offer (OPP) bid round, including the addition of 15 new exploratory blocks.The current bid round includes eight blocks (Jade, Ágata, Amazonita, Safira Leste, Safira Oeste, Larimar, Turmalina, and Ônix). With the inclusion of the new blocks (Cruzeiro do Sul, Rubi, Granada, Aragonita, Calcedônia, Cerussita, Malaquita, Opala, Quartzo, Rodocrosita, Siderita, Hematita, Magnetita, Calcita, and Azurita), the total will increase to 23 blocks on offer—the largest number ever made available under the OPP.

The draft bid round submitted for public hearing had already been approved by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and all included blocks have valid joint declarations from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the MME.

Since the update involves only the inclusion of new blocks and adjustments to technical-economic parameters—without changes to the rules already established in the current bid round—the public consultation stage was waived to expedite the republication process. This allows for a new OPP cycle to be held, with a public session still in 2026. To initiate a new cycle, the Special Bidding Committee (CEL) must receive and approve a declaration of interest, accompanied by a bid guarantee, from one or more companies registered in the OPP.

In addition to the 15 blocks included in this update, three other blocks authorized by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE)—Mogno, Dolomita, and Limonita—will be incorporated in a future revision of the bid round. The Mogno block, although it already has a valid joint declaration, is partially located beyond Brazil’s 200-nautical-mile territorial limit, requiring adjustments to the bid round rules to include specific provisions applicable to such areas.

Meanwhile, the Limonita and Dolomita blocks require boundary adjustments due to recommendations in Joint Declaration MMA/MME No. 01/2026, as well as an assessment of the impacts of these changes on the technical-economic feasibility of the areas. These procedures demand a broader bid round revision process, making it unfeasible to hold a new cycle in 2026.

Therefore, to ensure at least one annual cycle per contracting regime, the ANP opted for the immediate inclusion of the 15 eligible blocks, with the remaining blocks to be incorporated in future revisions.

Learn more about Public Hearing No. 2/2026.

What is the Permanent Offer?

The Permanent Offer is currently the main bidding model for oil and natural gas exploration and production in Brazil. Unlike traditional bid rounds, this model allows for the continuous offering of exploratory blocks and marginal accumulation areas, located in onshore or offshore basins.

This gives companies the flexibility to study technical data for the areas and submit bids when they deem most appropriate, without rigid deadlines or specific bidding cycles. This flexibility has made the Permanent Offer an essential tool for fostering competitiveness and attractiveness in Brazil’s energy sector.

Currently, there are two types of Permanent Offers:

• Permanent Concession Offer (OPC)
• Permanent Production Sharing Offer (OPP)

To date, the ANP has conducted:

• Five Permanent Offer cycles under the concession regime (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2025)
• Three Permanent Offer cycles under the production-sharing regime (2022, 2023, and 2025)