Peru’s offshore energy frontier has taken a decisive turn. Anadarko (35%), Chevron (35%), and Westlawn (30%) have signed amended license agreements with Perupetro to explore Blocks Z-61, Z-62, and Z-63 in the Trujillo Basin. The area spans more than 6,000 km², lying some 50 nautical miles off the northern coasts of Lambayeque and La Libertad.

The consortium has just completed the largest-ever 3D marine seismic survey in Peru’s history. Conducted between May and July 2024, it marks a technological leap in mapping the country’s offshore geology. Results are expected in early 2026, when the partners will decide whether to drill. If successful, production could reach 100,000–150,000 barrels per day, backed by more than $1 billion in investment.

The Trujillo Basin is widely considered one of Latin America’s most underexplored frontier regions. Unlike Brazil’s prolific pre-salt or Guyana’s headline-grabbing offshore discoveries, Peru’s Pacific has remained largely untouched. Success here would not only cut Peru’s hydrocarbon import dependency but also place the country firmly back on the radar of global oil majors.

The entry of world-class players signals renewed international confidence in Peru’s hydrocarbon potential. The presence of President Dina Boluarte and Energy Minister Jorge Montero at the signing ceremony underscores the political importance of energy security for the government.

From national energy to geopolitical position

The implications go beyond national supply. Peru sits at the crossroads of two overlapping Pacific architectures:

  • China’s Mining–Logistics Pacific: embodied in copper corridors and the COSCO-operated Chancay mega-port.
  • The U.S. Energy Pacific: now reinforced by Chevron’s arrival and Washington’s strategic interest in countering China’s dominance in South American logistics and mining.

By opening offshore basins to Chevron, Peru is aligning itself with a broader U.S.-anchored energy network in the Pacific, even as its minerals and logistics remain deeply tied to Chinese demand.

This places Peru in a hinge position: between China’s grip on logistics and mining, and the U.S.’s reassertion in hydrocarbons. It is a delicate balance where leverage lies in using discoveries to diversify partnerships, strengthen autonomy, and position Peru as a hybrid hub where minerals, logistics, and hydrocarbons converge to shape the Pacific energy map.

The Trujillo Basin is not only a frontier for hydrocarbons—it is a frontier for Peru’s geopolitical identity. If commercial reserves are found, Peru will move from being a passive exporter of raw minerals into a player in the Pacific energy chessboard, a space where U.S. and Chinese influence intersect.

Whether Peru can turn this external interest into national advantage will depend not only on geology, but on its ability to govern strategically, balancing partners while maintaining autonomy.