Business & Economy
Offshore energy bidding deadline moves to March 2027
Bangladesh has extended its 2026 offshore bidding round by four months to 31 March 2027 after requests from international oil companies. The government is also making data packages easier to obtain in an effort to attract more bids.
এই খবরটি আপাতত ইংরেজিতে পড়ুন
From 15 October 2026 — Daily Brief
Bangladesh has extended the deadline for its 2026 offshore oil and gas bidding round to March 31, 2027, giving international companies four additional months to assess the available blocks.
The previous deadline was November 30. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said the change followed discussions with international oil companies that wanted more time to review geological data and prepare offers.
Authorities are also making data-sale packages more accessible. Offshore exploration decisions require companies to analyse seismic and other technical information before committing capital, and the government hopes easier access will broaden participation.
The extension reflects the difficulty of attracting exploration investment at a time of volatile energy prices and intense competition among frontier markets. Bangladesh wants new domestic gas resources as declining fields and expensive liquefied natural gas imports put pressure on power generation, industry and public finances.
More bids would not by themselves guarantee a successful round. Investors will examine the fiscal terms, contract stability, environmental obligations and the credibility of future pricing arrangements. The government should use the additional time to publish a clear timetable and ensure that any eventual production-sharing contracts allocate geological, commercial and environmental risk transparently.