Brazil suspends oil & gas bidding round due to coronavirus

Brazilian oil and gas regulator ANP has temporarily suspended the country’s 17th Bidding Round for the award of offshore exploration and production acreage due to the coronavirus crisis.

The government agency said earlier this week it would suspend the round which had been scheduled for this year.

The agency also explained that the decision had been made in compliance with the Mines and Energy Ministry’s determination to suspend all actions related the 17th round, specifically those related to the publication of the pre-public notice and the draft contract.

The National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) will define a new schedule for the bidding process, which will be submitted for evaluation by its members, the ANP concluded.