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Lula defends meeting with Shell and denies contradictions in his environmental policy. The future of the pre-salt and the role of Petrobras are at stake.
An uncertain future hangs over Petrobras and the exploration of new Brazilian pre-salt. Could oil giant Shell be about to take the state-owned company's place in Brazil's most promising discovery?
With growing expectations about the economic impact of this new deposit, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's response has caused a stir.
According to newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, in a meeting, the Brazilian president discussed directly with Shell's top management in New York, generating doubts about the role of Petrobras and the future of the energy sector in the country.
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Lula's meeting with Shell executives, which took place during his trip to the UN General Assembly, was not included in the president's official list of commitments, but was later revealed.
According to the newspaper cited, This strategic meeting brought to light an essential debate on Brazil's energy policy and the international company's intentions in exploring the equatorial margin, one of Brazil's last unexplored oil frontiers.
What did Lula say about Shell's presence in Brazil?
Lula, during a press conference in New York, downplayed the criticism to meet and denied any contradiction with his environmental speech.
He recalled Shell's long history in Brazil, emphasizing that the company has been present in the country for over a hundred years. According to the president, the company operates “within the requirements of Brazil’s energy policy”.
The visit of Wael Sawan, global president of Shell, and Cristiano Pinto, president of Shell Brazil, to the Brazilian embassy in New York raised questions about the company's intention to position itself strongly in the country's new oil scenario.
As reported by BBC Brasil, Pinto had already publicly commented on the company's interest in exploring the equatorial margin, which covers areas between Rio Grande do Norte and Amapá, a region with enormous potential that is still unexplored.
Petrobras or Shell: who will dominate the new pre-salt?
According to Lula, there is no room for direct competition between Shell and Petrobras at this time. He highlighted that Shell is Petrobras partner in 60% of the auctioned wells in Brazil.
Furthermore, the exploration of the equatorial margin, a focus of interest for Shell, depends directly on government authorization. “Shell will only go to the equatorial margin when the Brazilian government authorizes Petrobras to conduct research on the equatorial margin,” said Lula.
As the CPG has been publishing, Ibama is still analyzing Petrobras' request to carry out research in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, and the expectation is that this decision could pave the way for joint exploration of the area. However, Only after this approval will Shell be able to continue with its operations. in the region.
The future of fossil fuels and Petrobras
The president also stressed that although the world is transitioning to alternative energy sources, fossil fuels will remain essential until there is global self-sufficiency in clean sources.
“When we say this, we need to point out how planet Earth will survive without fossil fuels,” stated Lula.
Looking to the future, the president envisions a radical transformation of Petrobras, which is expected to evolve from an oil-focused company to a broader energy company.
“When oil runs out, Petrobras needs to be prepared to produce other forms of energy that Brazil and the world need,” he concluded.
What is at stake for Brazil?
Exploration of the equatorial margin may represent a new economic leap for Brazil, positioning the country among the world leaders in the energy sector.
However, decisions involving Petrobras, Shell and the Brazilian government will set the pace of this change.
The political and environmental implications of these decisions are also enormous. Lula's government has been pressured to find a balance between environmental protection and oil-driven economic development.
This issue will continue to generate intense debate in the coming months, especially as Brazil seeks to meet its environmental goals while exploiting its vast oil reserves.
Do you believe that Brazil should prioritize Petrobras as a leader in the exploration of the new pre-salt layer, or is a partnership with international companies like Shell the best way to guarantee the country's energy future?
