Bidding for 4 Offshore Oil and Gas Blocks in Sri Lanka Closes in February 2027

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka launched a licensing round for offshore oil and gas blocks on August 25, 2026, opening 4 exploration blocks in the Mannar Basin to companies with technical and financial capability, with a total area of approximately 33,964 square kilometers and water depths of approximately 100 to 3,000 meters. The tender number is SL2026-01, the deadline for requests for bid clarification is January 12, 2027, and the official bid submission deadline is February 2, 2027.

The blocks offered in this licensing round include 2026-MB-01, 2026-MB-02, 2026-MB-03, and 2026-MB-04, with areas of 5,948.95, 5,689.05, 10,597.67, and 11,728.30 square kilometers, respectively. Tender materials and geological and geophysical information have been made available to eligible companies through a dedicated data room for bidders to conduct technical evaluations and prepare exploration plans.

The Mannar Basin has previously discovered natural gas and condensate in the Dorado and Barracuda exploration wells. Between 2011 and 2013, Cairn Lanka drilled 4 exploration wells in the basin. Available data include 2D and 3D seismic data and historical well data, and some deepwater areas have not yet been verified by drilling.

The Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka held its first round of international investment promotion in London from September 29 to 30, and plans to hold an online investor briefing on October 21, followed by further promotion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 16 to 17. After the bidding ends, the regulatory authority will conduct a review, sign petroleum resource agreements with the selected companies, and process exploration licenses. The specific award date has not yet been determined.