Thailand licensing – The 26th Round announced, but not quite launched

(Originally posted on September 14, 2026)

Thailand has used Gastech 2026 in Bangkok to put its long-planned 26th Petroleum Bidding Round firmly in front of the international oil and gas industry.

However, this was not the formal launch of the bidding process. The acreage has been defined and promoted to potential investors, but the invitation to bid is still awaiting Cabinet approval, with the outstanding issue appearing to relate to the fiscal treatment that will apply to the higher-risk deepwater acreage.

If that approval is secured soon, the Ministry of Energy currently hopes to launch the formal bidding process before the end of 2026. Reports suggest companies would then have around four to five months to study the available data, followed by evaluation and a potential award during the second or third quarter of 2027.