PETRONAS, through Malaysia Petroleum Management (MPM), yesterday launched the Malaysia Bid Round 2026 (MBR 2026), with the theme “Advantaged Energy: Accelerating and Shaping Tomorrow”, aiming at strengthening Malaysia’s position as a premium investment destination.

This year’s MBR introduces nine (9) exploration blocks across Malaysia. The portfolio presents a balanced mix of opportunities, featuring high-impact exploration block in the frontier Sandakan Basin, high-potential exploration blocks in the emerging West Sarawak Basin and near-field exploration blocks with new play ideas in the mature Malay Basin.

The bid round also includes six (6) Discovered Resource Opportunities (DRO) offering “ready-to-develop” pathways for monetisation. Investors and solutions providers are presented with opportunities to leverage on the extensive technical information, enabling resource development platform and phased-development options which provide ability for early monetisation and near-term value creation.

Senior Vice President of MPM, Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, said, “Malaysia’s energy demand will continue to grow and upstream industry will need to fulfil this demand to power our fast-growing digital economy and manufacturing backbone. The economic spin-off benefits also extend to downstream industries while providing feedstock to many others. To fuel Malaysia’s upstream engine with a steady flow of opportunities, we require upstream investment in the tune of RM 50-60 billion each year.”

The MBR 2026 launch also demonstrated strong industry momentum and ecosystem activation, with strategic partnerships and development milestones announced in parallel with the bid round offering.

Strengthening the investment landscape, PETRONAS signed a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), underscoring industry confidence and reinforcing Malaysia as high-growth energy hub. Notably, MoUs with Global FCNG, Inc, ZDA Corporation Sdn. Bhd. and MTC Engineering Sdn. Bhd. broaden the scope of partnership opportunities and enhance Malaysia’s technology‑driven solutions ecosystem.

Advancing its energy transition and CCUS ambitions, PETRONAS is also expanding collaboration beyond traditional PSC boundaries through the Borderless initiative through Memorandum of Agreement with PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. and Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Limited. Leveraging the CBijak Malaysia Landscape framework, the initiative integrates workplans across the PSCs, offshore Malaysia, further optimising resource development and enhancing commercially viable CO2 management solutions.

Together, these developments reinforce Malaysia’s position as a premium upstream destination where regulatory clarity, resource potential, and ecosystem collaboration converge to create sustained value in delivering both energy security and transition readiness.

About Petronas

Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) is a global energy company committed to producing and delivering energy and solutions needed to advance society responsibly and sustainably.
As Malaysia’s national oil and gas company, we safeguard and manage the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. Our aim is to maximise value through our integrated business model to meet the energy needs of the nation and our customers across the globe. Our portfolio includes oil and gas, petrochemicals, petroleum products, as well as a range of cleaner energy solutions.