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Türkiye’s national oil and gas company, Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), has secured a 25% stake and operating rights in Pakistan’s Eastern Offshore Indus Block-C as part of Islamabad’s newly relaunched offshore energy exploration drive, Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy announced Thursday.
The move extends Türkiye’s energy footprint beyond its domestic and Mediterranean operations, aligning with Ankara’s broader strategy to diversify exploration partnerships and secure new hydrocarbon resources abroad.
The Offshore Bid Round 2025, Pakistan’s first in 18 years for the grant of petroleum exploration licenses, covers 40 offshore blocks across the Indus and Makran basins.
The process, which began in January 2025, was designed to attract both domestic and foreign investors through a Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that sets out transparent contractual and fiscal terms for exploration activities.
According to the statement, bids were received for 23 blocks covering about 53,500 square kilometers (20,656.4 square miles)—an area roughly the size of Costa Rica—reflecting renewed investor confidence in Pakistan’s energy sector, local media reported.
The ministry said these activities represent around $80 million in initial investment, which could rise to between $750 million and $1 billion if exploratory drilling proceeds.
Among the winning bidders were Pakistan’s national energy companies OGDCL, PPL, Mari Energies, and Prime Energy, joined by international and regional partners including Turkish Petroleum (TPAO), United Energy, Orient Petroleum, and Fatima Petroleum.
Under the new partnership structure for Block-C, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) will retain a 35% interest, while Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Mari Energies Limited will each hold 20% stakes. TPAO, holding the remaining 25% share, will serve as the operator of the block.
The initial exploration phase will span three years and involve comprehensive geological and geophysical surveys, including seismic data acquisition and interpretation to identify drilling prospects.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the participation of both domestic and international companies, pledging government support to expedite exploration efforts and emphasizing that the collaboration reflects growing global confidence in Pakistan’s offshore potential.
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