Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator Issues Petroleum-Related Call For Bids NS25-1P

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) has issued a petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P, which includes 13 nominated parcels. Bids must be received by April 28, 2026, before 4:00 p.m. Atlantic Time. Successful bidder(s) may be awarded Exploration Licences (ELs), subject to the federal and provincial Ministerial review and approval process set out in legislation.

The petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P nominated parcels are located on the central Scotian Shelf and Slope. Parcels 1 to 8 are located in deepwater on the Scotian Slope, in water depths from 200 to 4,300 metres. Parcels 9 to 13 are located on the Scotian Shelf, in water depths less than 200 metres, in the region where all historic gas, and to a lesser extent, oil production, has taken place. The shelf parcels are located near the Sable Island National Park Reserve and west of the Gully Marine Protected Area. No petroleum-related activity can take place within one nautical mile (or 1.85 kilometres) of the Sable Island National Park Reserve.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Middle and Eastern Scotian Slope and Sable Island Bank Areas was completed for the region that includes the petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P parcels. This SEA is available on the CNSOER website. Should an EL be issued as a result of the petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P, a project-specific Environmental Assessment (EA) or Impact Assessment (IA) would be required ahead of the CNSOER’s consideration of any subsequent application by an operator to carry out exploration activity on the EL. The project-specific EA or IA would evaluate potential environmental effects specific to a proposed project and determine the precise mitigation measures that would be required, should the CNSOER ultimately grant an authorization to an operator to proceed with offshore activity.

The CNSOER is inviting Indigenous groups and rights holders, fishers, and the public to provide written comments on petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P through our online form. The commenting period is open from July 7 to September 5, 2025. The written comments we receive will be shared publicly on the CNSOER’s website. The written comments received will be reviewed by the Board prior to considering the issuance of Exploration Licences.

The CNSOER’s website provides the terms and conditions for the petroleum-related Call for Bids NS25-1P, including the work deposit requirements. Please refer to the CNSOER website for this information, as well as detailed geoscience and regulatory information, and guidance on how to submit written comments.

About the CNSOER 

The CNSOER is an independent joint agency created by the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia and is responsible for the regulation of offshore energy development in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.

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Phone: 902-422-5588
Email: info@cnsoer.ca