On June 2, 2021, Brazil's National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels ("ANP") published the draft tender protocol ("Draft Tender Protocol") of the 2nd Bidding Round under the Production Sharing regime for the Surplus Volume contracted under the Transfer of Rights ("2nd Bidding Round"). The Draft Tender Protocol established the procedures and rules for participation in the bid and provided information on the draft production sharing agreements, the preliminary schedule, and information on the offered areas.

The 2nd Bidding Round will offer the development areas of the Atapu and Sépia blocks, with 228,89 km2  and Sépia, with 157.25 km2 located in the Santos Basin. Petrobras exercised its preferential right to be the Operator, having at least 30% participating interest interest in both offered areas..

The Draft Tender Protocol established the following amount for Signature Bonuses:

Block

Signature Bonus (BRL):

Minimum Percentage of Oil Surplus (%)

Atapu

4,002,000,000.00

5.89

Sépia

7,138,000,000.00

15.02

The technical data package will be available to bidders who (i) submit the electronic application form to the ANP, (ii) submit proof of payment of the participation fee and (iii) present the confidentiality terms of the technical data package and prove the powers of its signatory.

An additional technical data package will also be made available and consist of a collection of technical data selected by Petrobras. To access the additional technical data package, bidders must follow the procedures described above and present the other documents related to  expression of interest and qualifications.

The 2nd Bidding Round will follow the schedule below:

Event

Date

Publication of the pre-tender protocol and draft of the production sharing agreement.

June 2, 2021

Commencement of the period for delivery of documentation of expression of interest, qualification and payment of the participation fee.

June 2, 2021

Technical data package and additional technical data package  become available.

June 2, 2021

Deadline for comments on the pre-tender protocol and the draft of the production sharing agreement and end of the public consultation period.

June 28, 2021

Public hearing (city of Rio de Janeiro).

July 7, 2021

Technical seminar.

To be determined

Publication of pre-tender protocol and draft of the production sharing agreement.

October 15, 2021

Environmental and fiscal-legal seminars.

To be  determined

Deadline for delivery of documentation of expression of interest, qualification and payment of participation fee.

November 1, 2021

Deadline to present the bid guarantees.

November 25, 2021

Deadline to present the waiver declaration, according to section 8.

December 3, 2021

Public session for the presentation of bids.

December 17, 2021

Awarding and ratification of the bidding procedure.

January 7, 2022

Deadline for submitting documents related to (i) the execution of the production sharing agreements; (ii) the additional bid guarantee, as applicable; and (iii) the qualification of the affiliate appointed to execute the contract, where applicable.

February 18, 2022

Deadline for payment of the signing bonus and sending proof of payment.

February 18, 2022

Execution of the production sharing agreement (deadline).

April 29, 2022

The Draft Tender Protocol and the draft of the production sharing agreement may be accessed on the ANP/Rodadas website (in Portuguese only). All documents are available for public consultation until June 28, 2021, and inputs  may be made by both the industry and the general public.

We will keep you posted on the development of the 2nd Transfer of Rights Surplus Volume Bidding Round through our Legal Updates.

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This article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.