The National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) approved, on Tuesday (12/10), the inclusion of the Cerussita, Aragonita, Rhodochrosite, Malachite, Opal, Quartz, and Chalcedony blocks for bidding under the production sharing regime in the Permanent Offer system of the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP). For these blocks, government revenue is expected to exceed BRL 220 billion over the projects’ lifespan, with an estimated BRL 214 billion in investments during the period.

The minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, highlighted the impact of the decision on ensuring the country's energy self-sufficiency. “This measure is fundamentally important for the economy, attracting significant investments to the country and generating jobs and income for the population. For these specific blocks, signature bonus revenues alone will generate BRL 874 million for the Government, reaffirming the importance of this decision for Brazil’s economic development,” he emphasized.

The seven blocks are located within the pre-salt polygon, specifically in the Santos Basin, situated in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. They join the other seventeen blocks previously authorized by CNPE. As a result, the next auction, scheduled for June, is expected to be the largest production-sharing auction in terms of the number of blocks. This is another achievement of the Potencializa E&P program, an initiative of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) aimed at promoting the sustainable development of oil and natural gas exploration and production in Brazil.