
The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Petrobangla invite International Oil Companies (IOCs) to bid for acreages for oil and gas exploration. Eleven Shallow Sea Blocks (SS-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 & 11) and fifteen Deep Sea Blocks (DS-08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22) are currently offered for exploration by the IOCs. The bidder, either individually or in association with other companies, may submit bid for one or more blocks. Contracts will be signed with the successful bidders in accordance with the Bangladesh Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract (MPSC) 2026.
A bidder may participate in multiple blocks under a single purchase of the tender schedule. A separate application must be submitted for each Shallow Sea Block and each Deep Sea Block; However, a bidder may apply for two contiguous Deep Sea Blocks as a single contract.
CONTRACT FEATURES
- Full repatriation of profits.
- No Signature Bonus or Royalty.
- Attractive wellhead gas price linked to international marker crude Brent with floor and ceiling determined based on the lowest and highest average Brent prices over the preceding five years.
- Contractor is entitled to a mutually agreed pipeline tariff, paid by the buyer, to support pipeline investment for both Shallow & Deep Sea Blocks.
- Petroleum Profit sharing based on the R-factor with biddable upper & lower limits.
- Oil price to be determined based on prevailing fair market value in South and Southeast Asia.
- Exemption from duties on equipment and machinery imported for petroleum operations during exploration, development, and production phases.
- Contractor’s Corporate Income Tax liability will be borne by Petrobangla.
- The bidder must be an operator of at least one offshore acreage with a minimum daily production of 5000 barrel of oil or 75 MMSCF of gas for SS Blocks and 10,000 barrel of oil or 100 MMSCF of gas for DS Blocks to be qualified for bidding.
- Provision for assignment of interest and transfer of shares.
- 100 percent cost recovery with a yearly cap of 75% for both Shallow and Deep Sea Blocks.
- Mandatory work program limited to 2D seismic survey; bids must include additional work commitments beyond the mandatory requirement.
- Provision for proportionate reduction of mandatory work obligations through the purchase of available 2D multi-client seismic data for the awarded blocks.
- If the first committed exploration well becomes dry or non-commercial, higher percentages of Contractor’s profit shares for the second or more wells.
- Investment protection through stabilization and expropriation provisions.
- Fixed Bank Guarantee for performance of the Minimum Exploration Program to be submitted after signing of the contract.
- Option to sell Contractor’s share of Natural Gas in the domestic market to a third party, at a negotiated price, subject to Petrobangla’s right of first refusal.
- Option to export Contractor’s share of Natural Gas subject to Petrobangla’s right of first refusal.
- Ten percent (10%) carried interest for BAPEX (applicable to Shallow Sea Blocks only).
- The Government reserves the right to limit award of number of blocks to any successful bidder
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
- The bidder, whether an individual company or, in the case of a joint venture, at least one member must be an operator of an offshore acreage with a minimum daily production of 5000 barrel of oil or 75 MMSCF of gas for SS Blocks and 10,000 barrel of oil or 100 MMSCF of gas for DS Blocks.
- Bidders must have at least one global experience (other than home country) in the oil & gas exploration and production.
- Documentary evidence or certification of operatorship and/or global experience issued by the host country, state host company and/or relevant regulator/Government agency.
AVAILABILITY OF DATA
A basic Information Package is available containing a brochure with geological and related information, the Bangladesh Offshore MPSC 2026, block maps, the Bangladesh Petroleum Act 1974, and order forms for Promotional and Data Sales Packages.
The Information Package is available from 1st June, 2026 at a cost of US$ 100 or equivalent Bangladeshi Taka (BDT).
To assist bidders in evaluating the blocks, Promotional and Data Packages are available on a payment basis. The Promotional Package includes seismic sections, gravity, magnetic and geological maps. Purchase of the Promotional Package is mandatory for participation in the bidding process.
The Promotional Package (Bidding Document) is available from 1st June, 2026 at a cost of US$ 7,000 or equivalent Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). Purchase of Data Sales Packages is optional and available at different price levels.
Companies interested in participating in the bidding process and/or purchasing the Information Package, Promotional Package (Bidding Document), and Data Sales Packages may contact:
Director, Production Sharing Contract (PSC)
Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla)
Petrocentre, 3 Kawran Bazar, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Telephone 88-02-55013610, web site: www.petrobangla.org.bd
E-mail: dpscpb@petrobangla.org.bd with a CC to gm.contract@petrobangla.org.bd
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