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Pakistan Awards 23 Offshore Exploration Blocks in First Round in Nearly 20 Years

Early spending totals about $80 million, potentially reaching up to $1 billion at the drilling stage.

Overview

  • Pakistan’s energy ministry said 23 of 40 offered offshore blocks were awarded, covering roughly 53,500 square kilometres.
  • Four consortiums led by OGDCL, PPL, MariEnergies and Prime Energy won the blocks alongside partners including United Energy Group, Orient Petroleum and Fatima Petroleum.
  • Turkey’s TPAO secured a 25% stake and operatorship of one block under a joint bidding agreement with PPL.
  • The winners committed about $80 million for the initial three-year exploration phase, with total investment projected at $750 million to $1 billion if drilling proceeds.
  • Officials framed the awards as a step to revive a sparsely tested offshore sector that has seen only 18 wells drilled since 1947.