by PreSalt.com - Source: PETROBRAS NEWS
Petrobras’ CEO, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, participated in a public hearing at the House of Representatives Tuesday (09/29) to discuss the new oil exploration and production framework for the pre-salt layer. In the debate, organized by the Economic, Industry & Trade Development, Mines & Energy, and Finances & Taxation commissions, Gabrielli said the rate at which the new exploration areas will be deployed is directly dependent on the Brazilian industry’s growth capacity. Gabrielli stated that production is expected to grow by 1.9 million barrels per day by 2020. “This will entail doubling production,” he explained.
Biofuels
To Gabrielli, the climate change issue will weigh in on the decision to boost investments in the biofuels area. Petrobras’ budget for the sector is $1.4 billion for the next four years.
The CEO said that the Company is posed to invest $23 billion in the gas sector through 2013. “The demand for gas in Brazil depends on the weather, since the Brazilian energy matrix is based on hydroelectric power. If there is a drought, production will have to go on stream at the thermoelectric plants. We need more flexibility in the sector, and it is necessary to boost regasification capacity,” he defended.
Also according to Gabrielli, Brazil sometimes produces more gas than it needs. “So we need capacity to liquefy the gas and market it,” he said.
To the representative of the Mines & Energy Commission, federal representative Arnaldo Vianna (PDT-RJ), Petrobras is a company that brings development to the country. “We have many reasons to celebrate and thank Petrobras’ employees,” he said. The chairman of the Economic, Industry and Trade Development Commission, representative Edmilson Valentim (PCdoB-RJ), believes a lot of discussion is still needed in order to define the regulatory framework. “Since this involves a huge array of issues, there are many doubts. More extensive debates will deepen the subject and ensure the enactment of a law that best represents the current stage of development in Brazil,” he noted.
Valentim highlighted the regulatory framework be defined from the technical, not from the political and ideological viewpoints. “Opting for the production sharing model must be a choice made based on convincing technical fundamentals, following successful examples of other oil-exploring nations,” he stressed.
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