Bangladesh has invited international oil and gas companies to participate in its 2026 offshore bidding round, offering 26 blocks in the Bay of Bengal as the country seeks to expand domestic exploration to meet rising energy demand.
The invitation was made at a ministerial session on the strategic stage of the World Energies Summit in London on 29 September.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit told international investors that Bangladesh’s rapidly growing economy was driving up demand for energy.
He said the government was working to increase exploration and production of domestic gas and other energy resources to meet the country’s growing requirements.
The minister urged international oil and gas companies to participate in the Bangladesh Offshore Bidding Round 2026, under which 26 offshore blocks have been opened to global investors.
The blocks comprise 11 shallow-water and 15 deep-water blocks in the Bay of Bengal.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmood Bin Harun, chairman of Invest Bangladesh, presented an overview of the country’s economic situation at the summit.
He highlighted what he described as improving macroeconomic stability, positive investment flows and government policies aimed at creating a more supportive environment for international investors.
The presentation also focused on the largely unexplored offshore potential of the Bay of Bengal, the availability of modern seismic data and the commercial terms offered under Bangladesh’s Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) 2026.
The government is seeking to attract international exploration companies with the availability of geological and seismic information, alongside what it described as competitive terms under the new offshore PSC framework.
At the conclusion of the session, the Bangladesh delegation encouraged international energy companies to review the country’s geological and seismic data before considering participation in the bidding round.
The delegation also urged potential investors to engage directly with the Bangladesh government and Petrobangla for further information and to participate in the ongoing bidding process.
Bangladesh has been seeking to accelerate offshore exploration as domestic gas production faces growing pressure from rising demand and declining output from some mature fields. The government sees offshore exploration as an important part of efforts to expand domestic energy supplies and reduce reliance on imported fuel and LNG.