RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -BP's announcement on Monday of its largest global oil and gas discovery in 25 years in Brazil's offshore Santos basin bodes well for Equinor's nearby interests and strong appetite for an October auction of oil blocks in the region.

Amid a pivot back to its fossil fuel roots and away from renewable energy, Britain's BP said it had made its largest oil and gas discovery in 25 years.

BP has made its largest oil and natural gas discovery in 25 years off the coast of Brazil, it said Monday, in a potential big boost for the British company following its strategic shift away from renewable energy to refocus on fossil fuels.