CMS advises Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı – TPAO on joining the Han Tervel offshore exploration permit in Bulgaria

CMS has advised Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı – TPAO on its joining of the Han Tervel permit for prospecting and the exploration of oil and gas resources offshore Bulgaria. 

The permit is operated by Shell Exploration and Production 96 B.V., which holds 42% interest in the permit and was awarded the permit in April 2025. The other permit holder is OMV Petrom E&P Bulgaria S.r.l. 

CMS assisted Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı – TPAO throughout the whole process of joining the permit with the local authorities.  

The procedure included Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı – TPAO passing all the qualification criteria to onboard the permit as well as preparing and providing Ministry of Energy with all the relevant documents, evidence, and declarations, verifying the presence of the qualification criteria. 

Following approval by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers, the Minister of Energy, Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı – TPAO and the existing permit holders will enter into the additional agreement to the prospecting and exploration agreement for the permit.

The CMS team was led by Kostadin Sirleshov, and included Denitsa Dudevska (Oil & Gas); and Petar Petrov (Energy & Climate Change).