Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
4 comments 
More Than 50 Oil Fields Will Be Reoffered by ANP After Petrobras’ Decision Not to Renew Round Zero Concessions, Opening Space for New Independent Operators in Mature Areas in the Northeast and Southeast.
The ANP is considering reoffering more than 50 fields inherited from the Round Zero contracts that Petrobras decided not to renew after 27 years of concession, revealed the Eixos portal this Tuesday (02).
The idea is to include these areas in the next cycles of the permanent offer, opening space for independent operators to take over mature assets and resume production, especially in the Northeast.
In the Southeast, the pre-salt polygon imposes additional regulatory barriers and may limit alternatives.
-
Oil returns to the center of the global crisis by surpassing US$118 after a 6% jump; US-Iran tension pressures Brent and raises an alert for diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and freight in Brazil.
-
Oil surges in the international market amid growing tension in the Middle East, surpassing US$ 110 per barrel and rekindling global fear over inflation, expensive energy, and direct impact on the world economy.
-
An unmanned Russian ship has been drifting in the Mediterranean for 57 days with 60,000 tons of gas — the second towing attempt has just failed.
-
No one needs to cross Guanabara Bay by speedboat anymore to deliver documents to ships — Wilson Sons uses drones that cover 8 km in 9 minutes.
In the sector, the possible reoffer is seen as a chance to expand the portfolio for smaller companies, at a time when Petrobras has suspended its divestment program in assets considered strategic.
State governments, in turn, are working with the agency and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to avoid the definitive shutdown of wells with expired contracts and preserve jobs and revenue.
Permanent Offer Back on the Radar
According to market insiders, the ANP is discussing internally the inclusion of these fields in the next rounds of the permanent offer, a mechanism that allows the presentation of assets without a rigid schedule and captures proposals continuously.
The measure would respond to the gap created by the non-renewal of the contract with Petrobras and would serve as a gateway for new operators seeking mature fields with remaining potential.
Even though the reoffer is a likely path, the agency and the state company are analyzing alternatives to expedite the transition, including leveraging the conditions of current contracts to allow the resumption of production under the control of other companies.
For Petrobras, delaying the immediate start of the decommissioning of installations would reduce short-term costs.
Industry sources claim that the company has brought the topic to the table with independents in recent meetings.
Negotiation to Maintain Production
There is an understanding among ANP, state governments, and Petrobras itself that prolonged interruption affects local economies and increases the costs of restarting, as well as reducing royalties revenue.
For this reason, government members are working on solutions to keep operations minimally active until new operators come in.
The discussion has gained strength in northeastern states, where dependence on the activity is greater.
A sensitive point is the direct transfer of assets.
Despite the recent precedent, the prevailing view in the market is that bilateral sales of other fields by Petrobras are unlikely at this time.
The company has faced resistance within the government and has halted the sale of assets considered strategic, even in land and shallow-water hubs.
Recent Precedent with Perenco
A case cited by sector agents is the sale of the Bagre and Cherne fields in the Campos Basin, transferred to Perenco in early August.
These areas, also derived from Round Zero, had production halted in 2020.
The PCH-1 and PCH-2 platforms were hibernated, and the process of returning to ANP had begun in 2022.
With the completion of the transaction, Perenco took over operations with the expectation of resuming production.
The example demonstrates that, in specific situations, the transfer to independents can unlock remaining volumes and reactivate service chains.
Nevertheless, the prevailing understanding is that scaled solutions — such as the permanent offer — will be necessary to direct the set of fields whose contract term expires.
Asset Sales Face Political Barriers
The divestment policy adopted during the administrations of Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro, which prioritized a focus on deep waters, was revised under the government of Lula.
In early 2023, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, sent a letter to the state-owned company requesting a reassessment of the sales operations that have not yet been completed.
In recent statements, the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard, suggested reintroducing the Bahia Terra Hub to the market, which provoked an immediate reaction from the PT, the Federation of Oil Workers (FUP), and the minister himself.
In this environment, the state company began to argue that decisions regarding the renewal or not of contracts and about possible sales follow criteria of business strategy and value generation in the medium and long term.
In a statement sent to the press, the company stated:
“It is worth mentioning that Petrobras constantly evaluates its assets, including those in decommissioning, seeking to maximize value generation, in line with its medium and long-term strategies for making decisions regarding possible requests for contractual extensions.”
What Is at Stake in the Contracts
The Round Zero concessions, established in the wake of the Petroleum Law and the creation of the ANP, provided for 27 years of duration and will end in 2025.
Among the affected areas are fields in Ceará, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Espírito Santo, Amazonas, and Bahia, as well as assets in the Campos Basin.
The non-renewal by Petrobras opens a gap for new allocation of these resources to operators with profiles and strategies focused on mature fields. In the Southeast, however, the pre-salt polygon serves as an additional obstacle.
The delimitation influences the regulatory regime and may require distinct procedures for the offering of certain areas, which reduces predictability and tends to extend timelines.
Meanwhile, northeastern states are demanding speed to avoid the loss of production and jobs in regions dependent on the activity.
Sergipe Seeks Tailored Solution
Among the alternatives under discussion is a leasing model for shallow-water areas operated by Petrobras in Sergipe.
The state government has already presented the proposal to the ANP and the MME, focusing on a rapid transition to ensure operational continuity and more gas in the local market.
Petrobras itself has indicated interest in building a negotiated exit for the resumption of production in the state.
In the Senate, the Sergipe representative Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE) advocated for the extension of concessions as a way to ensure gas supply, economic activity, and revenues.
In a speech in the Plenary in early August, he stated:
“We hope that the ANP finds ways to enable this new moment for the states, addressing a request made by both the governor and myself for an extension of the concession. This will facilitate a supply of more gas to the market, boost the economy of the states, and generate royalties and jobs.”
Next Steps and Uncertainties
While Perenco is advancing in the reactivation of Bagre and Cherne, Petrobras continues its internal assessment of which assets can be renewed, decommissioned, or directed towards alternative solutions.
The reoffer in the permanent offer emerges as a broader path, but its effectiveness will depend on the conditions presented to investors and the speed of the process.
State governments continue to press for a clear timeline for the transition and for measures that preserve economic activity in affected areas.
The challenge now is to determine whether the entry of independents will be sufficient to sustain jobs and royalties in producing regions or whether political and regulatory disputes will delay the resumption of these fields.
A culpa é foi e será sempre de Bolsonaro kkkkkkk.
O Bolsonarismo queria antecipar essa tragédia sem compromisso algum com as regiões e trabalhadores e garantir sua conta mais milhonaria. Aja à vista com a venda da Rlan a troco de joias.
Manda essa Magda para os infernos Lula
O PT como sempre entregando nossos recursos e depois culpa os outros governos pela venda!