Currently, Petrobras owns 11 units in other countries. The measure is part of the state oil company's divestment plan.
In a statement made this Tuesday, October 8, the president of Petrobras Roberto Castello Branco said that the state-owned company will have only six offices abroad by the end of this year. The statement took place at a public hearing at the Mines and Energy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. “Petrobras headquarters in Salvador, Bahia, was a temple of corruption”, said Castello Branco in the Chamber of Deputies.
The sale of assets is a way to reduce the debts of the state-owned company. According to Castello Branco, the disinvestments already carried out, as well as those foreseen in the future, do not mean a reduction in jobs or the dismantling of the oil company.
Currently, the oil company own 11 units in other countries. The measure is part of Petrobras' divestment plan.
After the reduction, in addition to Brazil, the state-owned company will still have offices in Bolivia, China, Singapore, the United States, the Netherlands and England.
The number of offices that the state-owned company has in Brazilian territory is also facing a reduction. Between 2015 and 2019, the oil company went from 72 properties in the country to 38.
As a result, costs allocated to this sector fell by 35%. “We are in the process of rationalizing space, which represents savings of R$ 700 million per year”, stated Castello Branco.
Divestment
These days, Petrobras is considering selling 183 fields, according to the president of the state-owned company. In addition, Castello Branco declared that production in some of the Northeastern states has become irrelevant. “We are selling these operations to other companies, several Brazilian ones”, stated the president of the state-owned company.
Castello Branco also stated that there are no privatization plans for the state-owned company. "There is no plan to privatize Petrobras, this is a ghost," he said.
The company's director took the opportunity to recall that the oil company has made incentive dismissal plans for employees in the sectors that are being sold. “We will not leave anyone behind,” said the company's CEO.
The president of Petrobras also spoke about diesel. “We could sell diesel at a Venezuelan price, which would not solve the problem for truck drivers. The truck drivers' problem is that there is a lack of cargo and, with the incentives given in previous governments, there is an excess of trucks on the roads”, he analyzed.
