Regional Scan: Oil and Gas Licensing Developments in APAC - 2025
Tracking 2025 Acreage Releases
The Asia Pacific region continues to be a dynamic landscape for oil and gas exploration and production. This summary offers a regional scan of the key licensing developments unfolding in APAC during 2025, highlighting active bid rounds, anticipated acreage releases, and the strategic focus of various governments in attracting exploration and development.
Here is a list:
Brunei
Brunei Offshore Licensing Round 2025: Brunei has launched an offshore licensing round, offering two blocks for competitive bidding. This is Brunei's first licensing round in over a decade.
Key Dates:
Launch: February 10, 2025
EOI Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025.
Bid and Prospectivity Report Submission: January 9, 2026.
The blocks are strategically located near existing infrastructure and proven oil and gas fields. The fiscal terms are reported to be flexible.
Link: https://www.pa.gov.bn/brunei-offshore-licensing/
India:
India's latest licensing round comprises 25 blocks totaling 191,986 square kilometers across 13 basins.
This is the largest offer in the history of India's Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
The Indian government has been working to improve the regulatory environment through enhanced fiscal incentives and easier access to seismic data.
Oil India and ONGC are expected to begin drilling in the frontier waters of the Andaman Islands in 2025.
Link:
Indonesia
Indonesia is expected to have licensing rounds in 2025. No specific details on the blocks or timelines were available in the provided snippets.
The results from Indonesia’s 2nd 2024 licensing round were announced in April 2025, see
Malaysia
Malaysia is expected to have new licensing rounds in 2025. No specific details on the blocks or timelines were available in the provided snippets.
Malaysia’s regulator - Petronas Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM) is not promoting free access to G& information and keeps a tight lid on publishing to much information for free
New entrants Eni and BP have signed Technical Evaluation Agreements (TEAs) for the frontier Langkasuka and Layang-Layang basins, alongside other major players, indicating potential future licensing in these areas.
Links:
Thailand
Thailand's Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) has confirmed its 25th licensing round will focus on nine onshore exploration blocks.
Bid documentation submission deadline is between July 1 and 16, 2025.
Minimum work commitments include seismic data acquisition and the drilling of at least one commitment well in the initial three-year exploration period.
Two blocks in Thailand's central region (L6/66 and L8/66) have lower minimum spending requirements for seismic surveying in the first exploration term.
Links:
https://dmf.go.th/public/list/data/detail/id/20135/menu/589/page/1/year/2024/ (general announcement)
https://dmf.go.th/public/list/data/detail/id/20135/menu/589/page/1/year/2024/ (includes a map)
https://dmf.go.th/public/list/data/index/menu/593041/groupid/56 (nitty grid stuff)
Other potential rounds:
Papua New Guinea (PNG): While a specific timeline for the new licensing rounds in PNG isn't detailed, the government has clearly stated its intention to launch them in 2025 and is actively engaging with potential investors.
Philippines: The Philippines saw bid rounds in 2024, with the results and potential follow-up for 2025 not yet fully clear from the provided information. Keep an eye on announcements from the Department of Energy (DOE) in the Philippines for any updates on new licensing rounds in 2025.
Pakistan and Bangladesh: These countries are also mentioned as having acreage on offer in 2025. However, specific details of licensing rounds were not available.