As many as 17 companies have registered to bid next month in two rounds of exploration license awards in Brazil’s pre-salt layer, Brazilian Oil and Gas Secretary Marcio Felix said on the sidelines of an event on Thursday. Brazil is eager to award new exploration licenses in the most promising blocks in its pre-salt layer as it tries to boost its economy and attract more foreign investment. Before Felix gave the exact number of the different bidders in the two rounds, the country’s oil and gas regulator ANP had previously said that 10 firms had expressed interest to take part in the second round, with 15 companies registering to bid in the third round. Now the exact number is known—17—and all are major oil firms, Reuters quoted Felix as saying. Interest in pre-salt areas by majors has grown since Brazil removed in October last year the requirement by law […]