Even without making any new discoveries, Brazil already has enough oil for more than 12 years of production: ANP confirms that proven reserves grew by 3.84% and total 17.4 billion barrels, while natural gas increased by almost 5%.

Written by Douglas Avila

Published on 13/04/2026 at 18:18

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ANP’s Annual Bulletin published on April 10, 2026, confirms 17.488 billion barrels in proven reserves and a replacement rate of 147%, indicating that Brazil finds more than it produces

Even without making any new discoveries, Brazil already has enough oil for more than 12 years of continuous production. The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) confirmed in its Annual Bulletin of Resources and Reserves (BAR), published on April 10, 2026, that the proven oil reserves in the country reached 17.488 billion barrels as of December 31, 2025 — a growth of 3.84% compared to the previous year.

As published by the ANP on its official portal, natural gas also advanced: proven reserves totaled 572.752 billion cubic meters, up 4.89% from 2024.

Map of Brazil showing sedimentary basins of oil

The complete numbers of Brazilian oil and gas reserves

The BAR 2025 details three levels of reserves, each with a different probability of commercial recovery:

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Why reserves grew — and what could change

The ANP explained that changes in the volume of reserves result from three main factors: production carried out during the year, additional reserves from new development projects and commerciality declarations, and the revision of existing reserves due to various technical and economic factors.

However, the growth of 3.84% in 2025 is lower than the 5.92% recorded in 2024, when reserves increased from 15.904 to 16.841 billion barrels. This slowdown may reflect both a larger base and challenges in new discoveries.

Additionally, reserves directly depend on international oil prices: fields that are economically viable at $80 per barrel may become unviable at $50. Therefore, the numbers published by the ANP are probabilistic and subject to annual revisions.

What the numbers do not say — and why caution is necessary

Proven reserves represent volumes with “reasonable certainty” of commercial recovery (probability ≥90%), but this does not mean that all the oil will be extracted. The data is based on voluntary declarations from operating companies, submitted by January 31 of each year, and are subject to factors such as available technology, extraction costs, and environmental regulation.

The bulletin does not include data on carbon emissions, energy transition, or socio-environmental impacts of production. As highlighted by IstoÉ Dinheiro, the increase in reserves is positive news for the economy, but the debate about the future of the Brazilian energy matrix remains open — especially at a time when the world discusses deadlines for reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Even without making any new discoveries, Brazil already has enough oil for more than 12 years of production: ANP confirms that proven reserves grew by 3.84% and total 17.4 billion barrels, while natural gas increased by almost 5%.

ANP’s Annual Bulletin published on April 10, 2026, confirms 17.488 billion barrels in proven reserves and a replacement rate of 147%, indicating that Brazil finds more than it produces

The complete numbers of Brazilian oil and gas reserves

Why reserves grew — and what could change

What the numbers do not say — and why caution is necessary

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ANP’s Annual Bulletin published on April 10, 2026, confirms 17.488 billion barrels in proven reserves and a replacement rate of 147%, indicating that Brazil finds more than it produces

The complete numbers of Brazilian oil and gas reserves

Why reserves grew — and what could change

What the numbers do not say — and why caution is necessary

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