US energy major ExxonMobil has sought clarity on Bangladesh’s forthcoming offshore bidding plans during a meeting on Tuesday with the chairman of state-owned Petrobangla, signalling a potential revival of interest in the country’s energy sector.
Petrobangla chairman Md Arfanul Hoque told ExxonMobil representatives that preparations for the offshore bid round are already under way, adding that the process would be opened to bidders within six months under the current government’s tenure.
The discussions form part of a broader effort by ExxonMobil to re-engage with Bangladesh’s energy authorities, with a focus on both offshore and onshore exploration opportunities.
However, Jonathan Wilson, ExxonMobil’s New Opportunities manager, declined to comment publicly on the outcome of the meeting.
Wilson is also understood to have requested an introductory meeting with the secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, scheduled for Wednesday, as the US firm seeks to deepen high-level engagement.
ExxonMobil has maintained intermittent contact with Petrobangla over the years, assessing potential investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s largely untapped offshore gas reserves. Its latest outreach comes as Dhaka intensifies efforts to attract foreign investment and technical expertise to accelerate exploration and reduce dependence on imported energy.