[co-author: Gabrielle Mattioda]

The Brazilian National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE) recently authorized the 13th Bidding Round for Brazilian oil and gas resources. The Round includes 266 exploratory blocks, both onshore and offshore, and are distributed throughout 10 sedimentary basins – the Amazon, Parnaíba, Potiguar, Recôncavo, Sergipe-Alagoas, Jacuípe, Camamu-Almada, Espírito Santo, Campos, and Pelotas.

On June 12, 2015, The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) published the preliminary tender protocol and the draft of the concession agreement for the 13th Bidding Round. A public hearing is scheduled on July 9, 2015 which may result in revisions to the preliminary tender protocol and the draft of the concession agreement. The final tender protocol and another draft of the concession agreement are scheduled for publication on August 6, 2015.

The bids for the 13th Bidding Round are scheduled to take place on October 7, 2015 and the signing of the concession agreements are expected to occur on December 23, 2015. This round will be the first one under the new rules introduced by ANP Resolution nº 18/2015. According to this resolution, the technical, judicial and economic-financial qualification process will only be required for the companies that win the bids.

Registration to participate on the 13th Bidding Round has begun and will remain open until August 11, 2015.

Additional information about the 13th Bidding Round is available in Portuguese here.