The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has advanced a broad set of regulatory and strategic decisions with implications for exploration policy, contractual frameworks, project development and Brazil’s energy transition agenda across the oil and gas sector.
ANP approved the draft of the updated Production Sharing Permanent Offer (OPP) bidding round notice, incorporating 17 additional exploratory blocks and bringing the total number of areas under consideration to 25. The proposal was unanimously endorsed by the Agency’s Board and will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) for review, followed by a public hearing prior to final approval and publication. Of the 25 blocks, nine already hold environmental feasibility clearances, while the remaining 16 await a Joint Manifestation by the MME and the Ministry of the Environment. The expansion seeks to reinforce Brazil’s upstream exploration pipeline, while also highlighting the regulatory interdependencies between licensing and interministerial coordination.
In oversight of upstream development plans, ANP denied an appeal filed by Equinor related to the Raia project in the Campos Basin. The Agency upheld its decision to classify the reservoir as a single field, rejecting the proposal to split it into Raia Manta and Raia Pintada. According to ANP, the areas originate from the same exploratory block (BM-C-33) and share infrastructure and production flow, characterizing an integrated development. As a result, the unified development plan submitted by Equinor and its partners was approved, with potential fiscal implications given the application of participation special rules to unified fields.
Another relevant regulatory decision addressed deepwater gas developments in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. At its meeting on 26 January, ANP approved the revised development plan for the Sergipe Águas Profundas project and exceptionally extended the concession terms for the SEAP-1 and SEAP-2 areas prior to the start of production. The measure provides long-term contractual visibility and aligns concession horizons with the expected operational lifespan of offshore infrastructure, supporting the economic viability of the project. Petrobras is required to submit updated plans reflecting the Agency’s technical requirements within the established regulatory timeframe.
On the regulatory front for decommissioning, ANP advanced the process to revise Resolution No. 854/2021, which governs financial guarantees for the decommissioning of oil and gas facilities. The Board approved the public consultation report and identified the need for adjustments to the draft resolution, including alignment with recent legislation and enhancements to the performance bond insurance model. Technical departments were tasked with updating the regulatory framework, defining implementation strategies and establishing procedures related to insurer notification and compliance.
In the renewable fuels segment, ANP granted its first authorization for the production and commercialization of Bio-GL, a renewable liquefied gas equivalent to LPG, to the Riograndense Refinery in Rio Grande do Sul. Produced using 100% plant-based feedstock, Bio-GL underwent industrial and laboratory testing that confirmed compliance with technical specifications and its suitability as a drop-in fuel. The product has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 65% to 70% compared to conventional fossil LPG.
Taken together, these decisions illustrate ANP’s multi-front regulatory role: expanding exploration opportunities, providing clarity on upstream project development, modernizing decommissioning rules and enabling the introduction of renewable fuels. The scope and sequencing of the measures also underline the complexity of aligning industrial policy, environmental licensing and fiscal frameworks — factors that will continue to shape investment decisions across Brazil’s upstream and midstream segments in the coming years.
